Constellation

CONSTELLATION LODGE

Location: Dedham

Chartered By: Samuel Dunn

Chartered By: Sereno D. Nickerson

Charter Date: 12/14/1801 II-189

Charter Date: 03/13/1872 1872-42

Precedence Date: 02/09/1871

Current Status: Merged with Eliot-Hyde Park Lodge to form Celestial Lodge, 03/17/2010.

NOTES

original charter vacated in 1842; petition to restore it apparently granted (V-165) but the lodge was again dark for a period between 1850 and 1870; a new charter was granted in 1872.

PAST MASTERS

Nathaniel Ames, 1802
Abijah Draper, 1803, 1804, 1813
1805-1812, 1814, 1815?
Elisha Lyon, 1817-1819
Josiah Fisher, 1820
William Pierce, 1821
1822?
Ebenezer Fisher, 1825
James Downing, 1826, 1827, 1832?, 1833?
Jeremiah Myers, 1828, 1829
1830, 1831?
Simeon Smith, 1832, 1833
Timothy Phelps, 1834, 1835
1836-1838?
Charles Hunnewell, ?
Ebenezer Capen, 1839-1841
DARK 1842-1847
Elisha Thayer, 1848-1850
DARK 1851-1870
Frederick D. Ely, 1871-1874
Alonzo B. Wentworth, 1875, 1876
David L. Hodges, 1877, 1878
Charles N. Nichols, 1879, 1880
Henry A. Hutchinson, 1881, 1882
George F. Wright, 1883, 1884
Lyman D. Wilcutt, 1885, 1886
Edwin A. Brooks, 1887, 1888
J. Everett Smith, 1889, 1890; SN
Andrew J. Norris, 1891
Aaron W. Baker, 1892, 1893
Lewis D. Smith, 1894
John E. Fisher, 1895, 1896
George A. Phillips, 1897, 1898
James Y. Noyes, 1899, 1900
Charles A. Turner, 1901, 1902
Harry I. Wardle, 1903, 1904
Frederic C. Cobb, 1905, 1906; Mem
George F. Joyce, 1907, 1908
Frank W. Nichols, 1909, 1910
Frederick E. Smith, 1911
John P. Cutter, 1912, 1913
William F. Whitman, 1914, 1915
John W. Withington, 1916, 1917
John E. Easton, 1918, 1919
Charles A. Day, 1920, 1921
Edward A. Rolland, 1922, 1923
Ernest H. Chute, 1924
G. Sumner Wilson, 1925, 1926
Ralph D. Pettingell, 1927, 1928
Wilfred N. Day, 1929, 1930
E. Lester Swett, 1931; Mem
Francis Clough, 1932
Clifford A. Smith, 1933
Frederick W. Bailey, 1934
James R. Hopper, 1935
Charles E. Clapp, 1936
Wallace G. Fisher, 1937
George M. Ellis, 1938; N
Theodore A. Ward, 1939; SN
Allen G. Swain, 1940
Harold I. Johnson, 1941
Walter A. Jacobson, 1942
John D. Hodgdon, 1943
Harold E. Cowan, 1944
Frederick A. Clark, 1945
Ralph S. Lyons, 1946
Gordon D. Larcom, 1947
Alexander J. McKay, 1948
Clarence Wallank, 1949
John B. Marden, 1950
Robert L. Tibbitts, 1951
Austin W. Holmes, 1952
Arthur R. McKay, 1953
William G. Street, 1954
Edwin H. Currier, 1955
Albert R. Dean, 1956
Charles E. Goddard, 1957
Frank N. Daley, 1958
Eric F. Meissner, 1959; N
Ernest W. Hatcher, 1960
Benjamin F. Dow, 1961
Burton F. Miller, 1962
Carlton E. Orcutt, 1963
George E. Inglis, 1964
Franklin S. Higgins, 1965
Lawrence S. Armour, 1966
Wendell C. Segersten, 1967
Albert E. Wurlitzer, 1968
Thomas Robertson, 1969
Donald F. Craig, 1970
Hollis A. Hedderig, 1971
Scott B. MacInnes, 1972, 1998
Archibald A. Martin, Jr., 1973
G. Lennart Gustafson, 1974, 1975
Wallace F. MacElhinney, 1976
Kenneth L. Hedderig, 1977
Donald L. Tabor, 1978
George S. Fontana, 1979, 1992
Peter C. Pappas, 1980
Riccardo P. Ingemi, 1981
Lewellyn J. Maxwell, 1982, 2002
William G. Bacon, 1983
Ronald A. Brosseau, 1984, 1988
Thomas M. Connors, 1985, 1993
Graham A. Long, 1986
Peter A. Randall, 1987, 1989
Glenn L. Kubick, 1990
Bruce A. Rand, 1991
George N. Neilson, Jr., 1994
Charles R. Lambert, 1995
Eugene B. Nichols, 1996, 1997
James E. Goode, Jr., 1999, 2007
Erik J. Meyer, 2000
Steven J. Engdahl-Olmsted, 2001
Thomas P. Parshall, 2003
Robert P. Zahka, Jr., 2004-2006, 2008
Glenn L. Kubick, 2009

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Charter: 1801
Petition for Restoration of Charter: 1848
Surrender of Charter: 1850 12/11/1850
Petition for Dispensation: 1871
Consolidation Petition (with Eliot-Hyde Park Lodge): 2009

ANNIVERSARIES

1897 (25th Anniversary)
1922 (50th Anniversary)
1946 (75th Anniversary)
1971 (Centenary)
1996 (125th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1803 (Thomas; installation)
1872 (Nickerson; hall dedication and constitution of lodge; Special Communication)
1878 (Welch)
1889 (Endicott)
1897 (Hutchinson; 25th Anniversary)
1916 (M. Johnson; celebration for Frederick Ely)
1922 (Prince; 50th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1927 (Simpson; Cornerstone laying; Special Communication)
1928 (Simpson; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
1946 (Wragg; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1959 (A. Jenkins; Mortgage burning; Special Communication)
1964 (Osgood; Rhode Island Night; Special Communication)
1971 (Jaynes; Centenary; Special Communication)
1972 (Vose)
1996 (A. Johnson; 125th Anniversary; Special Communication)
2009 (Pageau; Consolidation; Special Communication)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1881 1890 1902 1905 1910 1912 1917 1920 1923 1927 1928 1932 1933 1937 1938 1939 1940 1949 1953 1957 1974 1975 1982 2001

HISTORY

1922 (50th Anniversary History, 1922-60; see below)
1971 (Centenary History, 1971-232)
1996 (125th Anniversary History, 1996-219)

50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MARCH 1922

by Wor. George F. Joyce

The Right Worshipful told you why he mentioned the ladies last - "and the Ladies." I want here to tell you just one thing that is not historical, except that it came in my hearing frorn the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Arthur D. Prince, about three or four weeks ago, just before he sailed for Europe. It was not his parting message, but then the ladies will understand it. It seems that according to his story - and I suppose he was right - a good brother Mason was twirling a coin at the supper table and his wife said, "Why, James, what are you doing?" "Why," he said, "I was just twirling a coin, you know, my dear. I thought if it fell heads I would go to the Lodge tonight and if it fell tails I would go to the CIub, but if it stood on edge, why, I would stay at home with you, my dear."

I have just one more, and then we will begin. A little fellow about five years of age - some of you know just about his dimensions - was called from play late one afternoon by that familiar thimble finger tapping on the window, and he knew that he must come into the house. And so after various explanations on his part as to his delay in getting in, he had his supper and then was taken upstairs, and there his mother read to him. You known these little fellows five years old. are rrery fond of their mamas at about that hour in the day. And so she read to him "Old Black Sambo and the Five Little Rabbits, " and all those stories that he enjoyed hearing. And then he began to ask those peculiar questions that enter the mind of a child, until finally she got rather weary of answering his questions. And just as she put up her finger to turn the switch and put out the light he said, "Oh, mother, mother, where does the light go when it goes out?" "My dear," she said, "you ask such foolish questions! Why, I might just as well try to tell you where your father goes when he goes out."

Now, you see his father was not a member of any Lodge, I believe; he certainly was not a member of Constellation Lodge, for then she would have said, "Why, he has gone to the Club; you remember where it is - right over the bank there. Don't you remember when we put that five dollars in the bank for you, Tommy! He is there, or he is up in the Lodge-room, up over Memorial Hall. You remember Memorial Hall, don't you?" And he thinks he does. "That is where he is." And you know every Thursday afternoon all the ladies can go over to our Club rooms; they are all invited, I am sure; and you see what a comfort it was to the mother to be able to tell where the father had gone. That is the advantage of being a member of Constellation Lodge.

The Worshipful Master toltl me that I was due to begin at nine o'clock. I am a minute beforehand.

Some weeks ago, on a cold winter's morning, Brother Phillips accosted me and he said, "You know Constellation Lodge is going to have its fiftieth anniversary." "Yes," I said; "I can't realize that it is twenty-five years since Right Worshipful Brother EIy delivered the historical address. It can't be twenty-five years; has it all passed?" "Yes," he said, "and Constellation Lodge is preparing to observe its fiftieth anniversary, and they have appointed a committee and that committee has asked me to serve as chairman." "Yes," I said. And said he, "It would be fitting that we have a historical address." "Yes," I said. "And they have selected you to prepare that address."

Now somebody looking down over his program has probabiy said before now, "I don't see why they should have picked him out, do you? There is nothing historical about him." I have only been here thirty-three years. But none the less I am here tonight io do my best, and if you have any suggestions or criticisms to make I have told you where you can make them. I didn't appoint myself. you see Brother Phillips after this affair is over.

But there is just one thing I am going to promise you, and that is, I will not afflict you on either the seventy-fifth or the one hundredth.

When I was a boy about fourteen years old. I used to love to watch a new machine that the town of Brookline, where I spent my boyhood, had just purchased. It was a steam shovel, and we boys used to like to get up on Bradley's Hill and watch that great monster scoop up the immense shovels of gravel and dump them into long lines of cars, and where do you suppose they were going to take them? Into Boston, to put into the salt water between the Albany tracks and the Boston & Providence. You know where those railroads used to cross each other you could stand on the Dartmouth Street bridge and snap a peanut shell into the salt water of the Back Bay. And there they were going to build the largest music hall, I think, that Boston has ever seen and into that music hall they were going to invite royal and imperial bands from England, from France, from Austria, from Germany, from ltaly, and all of those countries, with our Marine Band from Washington and many bands of lesser note. The whole world was combed for musical artists to bring to that wonderful festival, and there they were going to unite in splendid harmony to sing the grand song of peace on earth, good will to men, and never again, was the promise, should there ever be a war in this world. And that was In 1872. Fix that date in your mind. The World's Peace Jubilee; no more wars - in 1872. In November - I remember it so well - that is the only proof I have of growing old, that I begin to reminisce a little - I remember going up Harvard Street in Brookline and on the church spires I could see the great waves of light moving up and down; and over the city of Boston there was a black pall of smoke hanging there with sinister omen, and how I wanted to go to the fire, too! But Father said, "No," so I had to satisfy myself by looking into the empty engine-houses of our town, because they had all gone to carry relief. And that was the time when Boston received its baptism of fire, and that was in 1872.

Now in history I have learned if you are going to be anything of a historical scholar you have got to learn to associate dates, and around some great event you have got to pin the others. It was just about that time, you see. Now, however different the character of these events may be, they all happened in 1872. First, March 13, 1872, just fifty years ago this very night, the Lodge received its Charter. Then came the World's Peace Jubilee as I have described to you; then came the Boston fire, when I believe all the hearts of Masons everywhere were literally warmed and there was a stronger fellowship than ever existed before, because every Brother could help share the other Brother's losses.

We met first, as Brother Brooks has told you, in Temperance HaII. Now you have a very good picture of that hall right on your programs. You have been looking at it, and the artist, I notice, has put several stars there. That, I suppose, stands for Constellation Lodge. The name Temperance Hall came from the Washingtonian movement which swept over the country in 1840 or so.

During the year of Dispensation, when I suppose the Lodge was on trial, they had not gone far when they found that the apartments in Temperance Hall were inconvenient and ill-provided for the use of the craft. You know the story - that the haII originally stood very near the home now occupied by the Baker family. It was the Norfolk County court house. When the main part of the present court house was built, then they moved the old court house diagonally across Court Street and it stood for a great many years just soutll of where Right Worshipful Brother Cobb's house is now. That was Temperance HaII. But it was inconvenient and you have heard Brother Brooks tell how they happened to fit up the attic of Memorial Hall, which at that time was about four years old, and it was such a strong building and so well built that our Brother Martin could say, "'We will put a lodge-room up there that will stand," and it has stood, as our Worshipful Master Brooks has told you.

Now, then, he differs a little from the figures that were given to me and which I took from the address of Right Worshipful Brother EIy who was also there at lhe time. From his address, given twenty-five years ago, I read that the thirty-five charter members spent $3,500 in fitting up those quarters and $98 more just for good measure.

It was just before the Dedication of our present quarters, and after the members had severely taxed themselves to raise the money necessary to give them a more suitable place to meet, that a little opposition to letting any of its town property to be used for any fraternal organization like the Masons appeared. But when the citizens of Dedham learned how their Masonic fellow-citizens had sacrificed to raise the money to furnish and equip their rooms, a spirit of fairness and justice among the citizens in town meeting assembled manifested itself so strongly that from that day to this there has not been the slightest indication of an anti-Masonic attitude.

Shortly after this town meeting came the dedicatory exercises. On this occasion, April 2, 1872, the officers of the Grand Lodge were present, when Most Worshipful Sereno Dwight Nickerson, Grand Master, constituted the charter members into a Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons by the name of Constellation Lodge, installed its officers and dedicated the hall above to Freemasonry, to Virtue, and to Universal Benevolence.

I quote at this time from the Historical Address of Right Worshipful Frederick D. Ely, the first Master of Constellation Lodge, delivered at our twenty-fifth anniversary.

"So far as these ceremonies were public, they were performed in the presence of such an audience as has rarely assembled in Dedham on any occasion; an audience representing the dignity, the wealth, the education, in a word, the sterling manhood and lovely womanhood of our people; an audience in point of numbers far exceeding the capacity of our hall, crowding the anterooms, and even the stairways; an audience who respected and honored our beloved Order, who witnessed our ceremonies and listened to the speeches of our learned Brethren of the Grand Lodge with profound attention, and who carried to their homes that night an elevated and enlarged idea of the worth and glory and usefulness of Freemasonry as an instrumentality in promoting the moral well-being of mankind."

At the close of installation of officers, the ladies presented to the Lodge a large and beautiful Masonic banner, on whose silken folds were represented many of the most cherished emblems of our Order, and inscribed the legend, Astra Castra, Numen Lumen. This banner was borne to the East by Brother Cornelius A. Taft, when Miss Lizzie Blanche Endicott, the daughter of our Brother Augustus B. Endicott, and now the wife of Reverend George H. Young, presented it to this Lodge in an exceedingly happy manner.

I want to emphasize again in your hearing the good words which were spoken in regard to the kind of work which was done by the officers of our Lodge in the very first year of its existence. The Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Utley said: "The work exhibited was the best I have had the pleasure of witnessing the past year."

What pleasure these words of commendation must have given Right Worshipful Ivory H. Pope, of Joseph Warren Lodge, of Boston, who instructed the first officers of this young Lodge: "What an example for accuracy for all succeeding groups of Officers to follow!" I honestly believe that no Brother assumes an office in Constellation Lodge without a firm determination to make his individual work the equal of any work that has preceded. And yet with an earnest desire to be letter perfect, let no one fail to remember that back of the words should be the great truth that these words are intended to convey. On May 17, 1898, I find this record of the work done by the Officers of the Lodge at that time, twenty-six years later, under the direction of Worshipful George A. Phillips.

"There was a very large number present this evening owing to the reputation Constellation Lodge has earned for correct work and beautiful floor movements. Many said it was the best work they ever witnessed."

And this work is being maintained under the direction of the present Master and his officers. So much for the work of our Lodge.

In February, 1908, we recall that the subject of a Masonic Home was considered. This Home at Charlton, Mass., would be purchased at an attractive figure, and the Grand Lodge had in mind to exemplify in a practical form that truly Masonic virtue, Charity. The Home was to furnish a comfortable retreat for indigent Masons, wherever found throughout the Commonwealth, who through no fault of their own were in needy and destitute circumstances.

On presentation of the plan to the members present, they at once voted to support the plan and contribute annually. $1.00 for five years. Many Brethren preferred to send their subscription of $5.00 at once to the Treasurer and soon Constellation Lodge sent its check for $790 to the most worthy cause. What a snug harbor this makes for many an elderly Mason who must travel down the long decline alone!

As a historian I might tell you of the increase in our members from the thirty-five Charter Members of fifty years ago down to the present nuinber of three hundred and seventy-one. I might in dry statistics tell you of the seven hundred and two communications, of which five hundred and twelve have been regular and one hundred and eighty-nine special. It would be interesting to learn that although we have had few if any wealthy members, yet we have always been glad to respond to an appeal from the Grand Lodge, or from a Brother in distressed circumstances: that today we have a total of Lodge resources of $10,446.74, an increase of $455 over last year. But I pass over all these facts that I may spend the brief time allotted to me in mentioning that which better illustrates the real principles of Masonry.

When this country of ours entered the Worid War it was fitting that the emblem of our nation should be constantly before us to remind us, as Masons, of our pledge of allegiance to our country, and so on the 16th of May, 1917, Right Worshipful Brother Frederick G. Katzmann, our District Deputy Grand Master at that time, in behalf of the members of Constellation Lodge presented the Lodge with a beautiful silken national flag. The flag was brought into the Lodge by Brother Horace F. Fuller who appeared in khaki uniform and was received with great enthusiasm. Right Worshipful Brother Katzmann was at his best, full of American spirit and patriotism. Worshipful Master Withington accepted it on behalf of the Lodge, stating that it had been given by many members subscribing to its purchase. Of course the Star Spangled Banner was sung in a wonderful manner, with the Adelphi Quartette leading. Then the Worshipful Master introduced Honorable Brother Guy A. Ham, of Gate of the Temple Lodge, who spoke of the flag and the part Masonry had taken in the history of our country and the duty we owed in the World War.

Twenty-eight of our members responcled to our country's call, ten in the navy and eighteen in the army. Their names are enrolled in imperishable letters of bronze to be handed down to inspire the young men of coming generations not only to brave deeds in times of the nation's peril, but to sturdy acts of manly devotion in times of peace even though such acts may pass unnoticed and lack the excitement and pomp of war. The bronze tablet was placed upon the wall of.our Lodge, with appropriate services.

Constellation Lodge received large additions to its membership, as did other Lodges throughout the eountry, from the young men who had been recently in the service, showing that the quiet influence of Masonry as they saw it in the camps exerted a strong power for good among the boys both in this country and overseas. What interesting letters we read in the Lodge from members here and abroad. How we contributed to send Ohristmas boxes, cigarettes, tobacco, sweets, Gilette pocket razors, etc., etc., ad libitum, in fact whatever they called for. And yet that war may never again devastate the world is the prayer of all of us. But none more fervent than the cry of one who has been there.

Here I pause for a moment to turn the pages of our Lodge Records where I find the name of Oscar Chaplin Hadlock, a candidate to receive the degrees. He is favorably reported, received and initiated, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and there his Masonic history closes; killed by accident in the service of his country before he could take his third degree. Providentially his is the only name appearing on our books for whom we placed a gold star on our service flag.

In looking over our records from time to time during the past few weeks I have found myself interested in reading the memorials of members who are not with us tonight. During the past twenty-five years, eighty-five such memorials have been inscribed upon the sacred roll, showing that three of our members each year pass to the Celestial Lodge above. I cannot help mentioning a few who were best known to most of you. The first is Aaron Whiting Baker, a most enthusiastic Mason and Past Master of the Lodge. I want to paint a picture, if I may. The hour is midnight. There are six good Masons riding in a hack from St. James Lodge at Mansfield back to Dedham. When approaching home they discover flames, the driver urges his steeds and they arrive upon the scene among the first. Instantly their wraps are tossed aside, and dressed as they are, silk hat and dress suits, they are elbow to elbow on the brakes of the West Dedham hand engine because a neighbor's barn is in flames. For a moment we smile at the incongruity of it all, and then the cry, "Water gone!" Nothing to do now but watch it burn. Brother Baker contracts a cold, pneumonia follows, and our smiles give place to sadness because an earnest, generous-hearted Mason has gone. Never was a member of our Lodge more enthusiastically interested in the tenets of his profession, generous to the last degree with his time and strength. Certainly Worshipful Brother Baker emphasized the fact that he owed a great deal to Masonry and we cannot help feeling that Constellation Lodge of twenty-five years ago owed a great deal to him.

Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Jarvis Everett Smith was a man whose name was often associated with that of Worshipful Brother Baker. He was a man interested in the welfare of Dedham as he was in the welfare of Constellation Lodge. In fact, in all matters civil or fraternal he gave a very generous share of his time and considered all questions, and gave all matters affecting his town or Constellation Lodge his careful and very wise consideration.

And then, too, came the word in the Lodge and about town that our Secretary for thirty years of untiring service was not well. Bravely he tried to be as responsive as ever, and yet we all felt that his strength was failing, until in June, 1920, he was obliged to relinquish his task and turn over his splendidly kept records of Constellation Lodge to the hands of another. Surely this historical address would be ineomplete if we did not stop to let our memory weave a wreath of immortelles to place upon the name of Henry Devereaux Humphrey.

Twenty-five years ago it was your pleasure to listen to the Historical Address of Right Worshipful Brother Ely. WelI do we remember the distinguished gathering from the Grand Lodge who were glad to join with Constellation Lodge in celebrating the anniversary of Judge Ely's fifty years in Masonry, May 10, 1916. How well do we remember how, in his earnest, fatheriy fashion, he urged especially the young men to become members of the Fraternity! His venerable appearance, his genial manner, his prompt response to whatever he considered his duty, either Masonic or as a citizen, in spite of advancing years, might well inspire us to try, at least, to take up his task when he was obliged to lay it down.

Fain would I speak of many another Brother who has left our Lodge for the Celestial Lodge above where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides. As I think of them one by one I am reminded of the words of James Whitcomb Riley.

I cannot say, and I will not say that they are dead.
They are just away! With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand
They have wandered into an uuknown land and left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since they linger there, and you, oh you, who the
Wildest yearn for the old-time step and the glad return,
Think of them faring on, as dear in the love of there, as the love of here.
Think of them still as the same, I say. They are not dead -
They are just away.

Having spent the years of my life at the desk of a school teacher, on their customary moderate stipend, it was a novel experience to see a thousand dollars raised in no time and right before my very eyes, too. That is why I bring it into this historical sketch. It was in this wise. Brother William F. McQuillen had served on a committee from our Lodge to brighten up our anterooms. And, as they were a little short of funds, they had voted to transfer a little money from one of the funds which seemed inactive at the time to the repair fund, in order to do a satisfactory job. Somehow this Brother's conscience got to working a littie overtime, for at the close of one of our annual meetings he rose and told his story, made his confession, and saial, "I will give my check for five hundred dollars, if you Brethren will give the same amount." Instantly Right Worshipful Brother Smith arose with a hat he had found somewhere and said, "put your piedges in here, Brethren," and in fifteen minutes, the time consumed in passing the hat and counting the result, we had one thousand and twenty-three dollars. "Now," said the Brother, "we'll put that in our Charity Fund to help someone if he comes to a rainy day." That kind of a spirit is what Masonry stands for in Constellation Lodge.

Quietly as the "dewfall from Heaven " did our late Brother Henry White on May 12, 1897, suggest that he would like to give $100 towards a building fund. For four successive years, until his death, did this good brother add $100 and now the Henry White Building Fund amounts to $1,359.38. Brother White was not a wealthy man. Many a man in this Lodge could have bought him out. But he showed a quiet interest in Constellation Lodge's welfare almost beyond compare. I cannot help feeling that he must have been a lineal descendant, in spirit at least, of Benjamin Franklin the great Ameriean Apostle of Thrift.

It had been my hope to get some clue to the facts connected with the name of our Lodge. So I went to our members most interested in matters historical. Not one could tell me a thing. Then I thought of past Master Brother Brooks, the sole remaining charter member, and he said, "Oh bless you! I don't know. We must have taken it from the earlier Lodge." WeII, that is a fair guess. Brother Arthur Thayer has recently presented to us these stewards' rods belonging to the old Lodge - and by the way, the chair you are sitting in, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, is the Master's chair of the old Lodge; I was told to say that. It is just one hundred and twenty years old and we look for old furniture here in Dedham. As Brother Thayer had recently presented the rods belonging to the old Lodge to our Lodge and had told us at that time of some of the events in the anti-Masonic days, I questioned him. He shook his head. About that time I happened to take up this little manual and I looked it through. There are three hundred and seventy-one names in it. Now a constellation is a group of bright stars, and so I looked it through to find any, and I said, "I don't see them; there are one or two rather distinguished, but after all, they are all mighty good Brethren, right on the level, and what is finer than to think of Constellation Lodge as a group of earnest-purposed men ? And what is finer than for these men to move forward under a banner which has on its folds Constellation - a group of men not stars, none of them, but all ready to do teamwork."

It was a distinguished man who said one hundred and fifty years ago, "I form my judgment of the future from the experience of the past." That may not be letter perfect, either, but it gives you the idea, and that is why I am just going to say one word which is not historical, but is looking into the future.

At our last annual meeting we had scarcely room in that Lodge-room above to put all the members. The head has grown too big for the hat and we have got to do something about it and I can see a splendid prospect for us if we all take hold and work together. I am going to give you an example in simple proportion. If thirty-five charter members could. raise $3,500 with $98 for good measure, how much can three hundred and seventy-one members get together if they go at it with the same purpose as did our charter members?

Now, then, there will be a line of excuses - we all are human - as to why we can't do it. But Brother Brooks is here and he can remember the line of excuses that were given by those thirty-five men. If you have one, give us a fresh one, a new one. Now I was thinking, as I eame from the High School this morning down across the meadow, of a great pile of brush, the remains of that terrible ice storm of a few months ago. You remember how our trees were terribly mutilated and the good men of the town carried that great pile of brush from all the streets and piled it up there, waiting for it to dry. Will it burn? It won't burn until you crowd that piie of brush down with some heavy load. Men working together cannot do the work unless you lay on their backs a load that is heavy, so that they get elbow to elbow, and then they can kindle with enthusiasm and they will go forward and do almost anything. And I prophesy that when the times are ripe and the prices are normal, three hundred and seventy-one men, you sitting there, and there, and there, all working together on the level, can do something that will surprise the town of Dedham. That is the future and I get it out of the history of the past. I get it from the thirty-five charter members who contributed their hundred dollars - not a hundred dollars at once, Brethren, but became responsible for a hundred dollars, so that as Brother Brooks said, After a while we got it."

Just a few nights ago Edgar Guest stood on this platform and recited many of those poems that you love to hear. The very afternoon of the evening that he was here he was over at the hospital on Parker Hill, and there you know he saw before him the wrecks of the World's War in human form. Oh, how those boys wanted to get weII and strong again! But sometimes they were awfully discouraged, and so he read to them this poem:

IT COULDN'T BE DONE.

"Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That 'maybe it couldn't,' but he would be one
Who couldn't say so till he tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: 'Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;'
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing he knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quitting
He started. to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

"There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it.

OTHER

1816 (Celebration of Feast of St. John the Baptist, III-38)
1844 (Committee report on the Lodge, IV-685)
1845 (Committee report on the Lodge, V-6)
1846 (Committee report on the Lodge, V-79)
1884 (Dispensation granted for Masonic burial, 1884-146)
1919 (Jurisdictional dispute, 1919-197)
1934 (Reduction in fees refused, 1934-335)
1935 (Reduction in fees granted, 1935-316)
1945 (Petition on jurisdiction, 1945-481)
1946 (Petition on jurisdiction, 1946-209, 1946-351)

EVENTS

ST. JOHN'S DAY, JUNE 1824

From New England Freemason, Vol. I, No. 10, October 1874, Page 483:

The New England Galaxy contained each week, under the head of "Masonic Calendar", a list of the Masonic meetings to be held during the following week throughout the State. To this was added from time to time the names of officers elected in some of the Bodies. In the June 4, 1824 issue appears the following advertisement:

MASONIC CELEBRATION.

"Constellation Lodge, of Dedham, have made arrangements for celebrating the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the 24th of June next. A Sermon will be delivered on the occasion by R. W. and Rev. Brother James Sabine, of Boston; and an Address by R. W. Brother Josiah J. Fisk, of Wrentham. The Brethren generally are respectfully invited to join with them in the intended celebration.

"Procession to form at precisely 10 o'clock A. M. Entertainment by Brother Francis Alden. Suitable accommodations for the ladies.

"Tickets for gentlemen $1, - for ladies, 75 cents.

"Dedham, May 23, A. L. 5824."
"John K. Briggs, Secretary."

MEMORIALS

JAMES DOWNING 1795-1874

From New England Freemason, Vol. II, No. 1, January 1875, Page 39:

MM 1819, WM 1826, 1832, 1833, Constellation

Another of the fathers in Masonry has been called away from his earthly labors—one who, through the dark days of fanaticism and persecution, was "faithful found among the faithful few."

Worshipful Brother James Downing was born in Dracut, Massachusetts, October 20th, 1795, and his death occurred January 25th, 1875, at his residence in the Readville District of the town of Hyde Park. For nearly fifty years he was engaged in the cotton manufacturing business, and such was his capacity and integrity, that he became widely known and universally respected and honored.

He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, December 30, 1819, in Constellation Lodge, of Dedham. In December, 1825, he was elected its Right Worshipful Master, which position he also occupied in the years 1832 and 1833. The few aged survivors bear testimony to the ability and faithfulness with which he discharged the responsible duties of the office. He was interested in the formation of Hyde Park Lodge in 1866, and became one of its members. At the time of his death he was an honorary member of the new Constellation Lodge organized in Dedham in 1871. His kind and genial disposition, his well-ordered life and his constant practice of the greatest of the Masonic virtues, Charity, will impart a lasting fragrance to his memory. His funeral was held on the afternoon of January 28th, at the Congregational Church in Dedham, of which he was for many years a consistent member. Hyde Park and Constellation Lodges united in the services, and an appropriate memorial address was delivered by Worshipful Brother Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.