MatthewJohnWhittall

MATTHEW JOHN WHITTALL LODGE

Location: Shrewsbury

Chartered By: Herbert W. Dean

Charter Date: 03/13/1929 1929-47

Precedence Date: 06/12/1928

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

Need living PMs

Albert R. Webb, 1928
Frederick W. White, 1929; Mem
Harold C. Martin, 1930
Ernest F. Maynard, 1931; N
E. Stanley Wright, 1932
Harold E. Daniels, 1933
Charles R. Webb, 1934
Warren E. Buxton, 1935
Tyler H. Day, 1936
Harry O. Eaton, 1937
Charles F. Woodward, 1938
John W. N. Taylor, 1939
Walter E. F. Estabrook, 1940
Roger E. Holden, 1941; N
Elroy B. Dean, 1942
Leslie E. Clark, 1943
George W. Woodburn, 1944
Irving W. Schold, 1945
Rolland E. Maynard, 1946
Richard D. Duke, 1947
Ralph E. Rawling, 1948
Herbert G. Schold, 1949
G. Merton Christiansen, 1950; N
Paul A. Damstrom, 1951
R. Lisle Marston, 1952
Edward J. Snyder, 1953
W. Ernest Stone, 1954
Walter T. Carlson, 1955
Robert A. Shaw, 1956
A. Elmer Pihl, 1957
George N. Gardner, 1958
C. Cordingley Clark, 1959
F. Raymond Anderson, 1960
Claude A. Ide, 1961
Michael P. Johnson, 1962
Robert D. Brown, 1963
Walter A. Scott, 1964
Allen A. Cramer, 1965
James W. Green, 1966
John M. Shea, 1967
Allen S. Peck, 1968
Robert W. Comeau, 1969; PDDGM
Donald L. Murray, 1970
William Lowe, 1971
Donald R. Gray, 1972
Fred W. Jacobsen, 1973
Paul P. Rexford, 1974
Edward E. Holden, 1975
Frederick H. Ricker, 1976, 1977
Donald E. Benson, 1978
Raymond J. Smith, 1989
Milton E. Friars, 1990
David C. Schnare, 1991
Richard H. Fletcher, 1982, 1989
Irving T. Nicoll, 1983
Alden T. Sears, 1984
Peter W. Johnson, 1985
Norman E. Hendrickson, 1986
James F. Buss, 1987
Norman I. Hendrickson, 1988
Harry A. Snyder, 1990
Alfred E. Lesinski, 1991
Vincent O. Stromberg, 1992
Gerard S. Shelby, 1993, 1994
William J. Rand, 1995
Michael A. Pacheco, 1996, 1997
Paul Michael Johnson, 1998
Keith Allen Smith, 1999
William J. Boyd, 2000
Joseph G. Harkins, 2001, 2002
Jay L. Krasner, 2003, 2004
William F. Gibbs, II, 2005, 2006
John T. Campbell, 2007
H. Bradford White, Jr., 2008, 2009; DDGM
Kyle E. Lindem, 2010-2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Dispensation: 1928
Petition for Charter: 1929

ANNIVERSARIES

1953 (25th Anniversary; see below)
1978 (50th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1929 (H. Dean; Constitution of Lodge and installation; Special Communication)
1953 (Roy; 25th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1978 (Maxwell; 50th Anniversary; Special Communication)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1938 1940 1948 1951 1952 1956 1958 1967 1977 1978 1980 1981 1986 1991 1993 1999 2000 2004 2008 2011

HISTORY

1953 (25th Anniversary History, 1953-129)
1978 (50th Anniversary History, 1978-62)

25TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1953

From Proceedings, Page 1953-129:

By Worshipful Merle E. Sturtevant.

It is fitting and appropriate, and in happy concurrence with ancient usages and customs to pause in our daily tasks and view in retrospect what has gone before. In this way we may take satisfaction for deeds well done and to some extent at least be guided along our future pathways.

Human intelligence universally conceives that somewhere, somehow, there is or was a beginning to everything. (It is written in the Book of Books, "In the beginning God created Heaven and Earth.") If we go on a journey anywhere, we start from some place. A new business is created. It has a beginning; so with Matthew John Whittall Lodge, A. F. & A. M. There was a beginning, and with this'we start on our way.

In a sense, the beginning of this Lodge is but a milestone, a marking post in the general progress of Masonry. But, for us here at this time, it sets up a sign post for all to see, testifying that hereby and hereon was organized in the year 1928, A.D., the Matthew John Whittall Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

To prepare a complete history from the written records of any group that has been in existence twenty-five years or more is a long and arduous task. The most interesting history we would find in the thoughts and experiences of the Lodge members. Here no attempt is made to present a complete record of all that has taken place in our Lodge, but rather we shall try to include in this brief paper a summary of some of the more outstanding and noteworthy events, hoping that at some time in the near future a much more detailed history may be prepared and deposited in the archives for safe-keeping.

Previous to June 5, 1928, when the petition was signed by over one hundred Masons living in Shrewsbury for a dispensation to form a Lodge here, much work was done by individual Masons towards this end. Brothers Ernest Maynard, Irving Sawtelle, Frederick White, Albert Webb, Lewis Everett, Ernest Larrabee, and Arthur Chapin were especially active. It may have been inevitable that in the due course of time a Masonic Lodge would have been established here, but that it had its beginnings when it did was certainly due in no small measure to the untiring interest and zeal with which Brother Ernest Maynard, with the help of Irving Sawtelle, prepared a list of the names and addresses of Masons then living in Shrewsbury. They started their work in 1924, and many conferences were held in a small room in the store then owned and managed by Brother Maynard in the so-called Chase Block on Main Street. As various Masons were talked with, it soon became evident that there was considerable interest in the project, and a meeting of a few of those especially and actively interested was held at the home of Frederick White on South Street in the early Fall of 1927. Those present at this meeting were Frederick W. White, Arthur B. Chapin, William Merrill Tuttle, Lewis W. Everett, Harold C. Martin, Albert R. Webb, Ernest F. Maynard and Ernest A. Larrabee. Frederick W. White was chosen Chairman of this committee.

Pros and cons of the feasibility of the establishment of a new Lodge in Shrewsbury were discussed at this and other meetings held later on. Two questions that seemed to require especial attention and discussion were:

How many members were to be given the opportunity to become Charter Members? Decided that all known Masons in Shrewsbury be given an opportunity to join as Charter Members.
What should be the Charter Membership fee?  Decided that this should be $25.00.

During these early meetings the matter of choosing a suitable name for the Lodge was discussed. It seemed only natural on account of the most generous gift of Juniper Hall to the Masonic Fraternity for a hospital by Mrs. Matthew John Whittall that it would be most fitting that Brother Matthew John Whittall's name should be chosen to be the name of the Lodge. To make sure that this plan would be agreeable to all concerned, Brothers Arthur Chapin and Albert Webb were constituted a committee to confer with Mrs. Whittall. This committee reported that Mrs. Whittall was very much pleased with the plan. She asked what expenses there would be in the establishment of the Lodge and suggested that a list of such expenses be drawn up and presented to her.

As a matter of natural procedure, conferences were held as necessary with Most Worshipful Frank Leslie Simpson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and his advice was for the prospective new Lodge not to ask Mrs. Whittall for money at this time. Accordingly, it was decided to meet this expense, some $1,600.00 or $1,700.00 from our own treasury. Later on and beginning in January, 1933, our records show that Mrs. Whittall has given to our Lodge three gifts in money of $1,000.00 each and one additional gift of $500.00, this money to be used at the discretion of the Master and the Lodge.

On Tuesday, June 5, 1928, one hundred and five Masons of Shrewsbury and vicinity gathered in the vestry of the Congregational Church and there signed a petition for a dispensation to form a Lodge in Shrewsbury.

By permission and under a dispensation of Most Worshipful Frank Leslie Simpson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, Right Worshipful Harry C. Midgley, District Deputy Grand Master of the Worcester 21st Masonic District, instituted Matthew John Whittall Lodge on Friday evening, July 20, 1928, in the Grecian Chamber of the Masonic Temple in Worcester. This dispensation provided that Brother Albert R. Webb be the first Master of the new Lodge, Brother Frederick W. White to be the first Senior Warden, and Brother Lewis W. Everett the first Junior Warden. The appointments of the Master of other officers were:

Bro. Merle A. Sturtevant, Chaplain
Wor. Ernest A. Larrabee, Marshal
Wor. Harold C. Martin, Senior Deacon
Bro. Ernest F. Maynard, Junior Deacon
Bro. Edwin L. Smith, Senior Steward
Bro. E. Stanley Wright, Junior Steward
Bro. Charles F. Woodward, Inside Sentinel
Bro. George H. Drinkwine, Tyler

Brother Clarence W. Warren was elected Secretary of the Lodge and Brother Carroll C. Smith, Treasurer. Also at this meeting Wor. Albert R. Webb, R. W. Frederick W. White,, Wor. Lewis W. Everett, Bro. Carroll C. Smith, and Bro. Clarence W. Warren were elected by the Lodge as members of a committee to draw up a set of by-laws to be submitted at the regular communication of the Lodge in September. Petitions for membership were received from Lewis Edward Gates, John Endicott, Elmer Julius Preston, and Harold E. Daniels. The first meeting closed in the fall with seventy-six members and sixty-five visitors present: so Matthew John Whittall Lodge was started on its way.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at its flood, leads on to fame and fortune." Surely, the tide was right and our ship seems to have been launched in a most auspicious time and manner, for during the first year, thirteen new members were admitted, making the total membership at the end of the first year 118.

Some of the highlights of meetings that followed to the present time have been selected; many more could have easily been included; but time is much too short to do this.

Especially noteworthy are the arrangements that were made for a Bible to be used in our meetings. The Lodge did not own a Bible at first, and Wor. Albert R. Webb loaned to the Lodge his own family Bible, and this was used until the regular communication that was held on October 19, 1928, at which time, on behalf of Isaiah Thomas Lodge of Worcester, Wor. Harold C. Martin presented to Matthew John Whittall Lodge, U.D., a very beautiful Holy Bible to be placed upon the Altar and very fittingly expressed the sentiments of Isaiah Thomas Lodge, explaining that as Wor. Matthew John Whittall was their second Master, it was their privilege and honor to present this beautiful gift in loving memory of Wor. Bro. Whittall to the new Lodge in Shrewsbury, the home of Juniper Hall.

At this meeting also, Bro. Ernest H. Vaughn was called upon by the Master, and he gave a most glowing tribute to Matthew John Whittall. This address is printed in full in the booklet containing the by-laws of the Lodge.

At a special communication of the Lodge held in the Masonic quarters on December 6, 1929, officers were installed for the ensuing year by R .W. Henry H. Dyke and suite. The Lodge was further honored by the presence of Wor. and Rev. John C. Breaker, Grand Chaplain of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and several past and present Masters of the neighboring Lodges. At this meeting, R. W. Otis C. White, Past Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge and a Charter Member of Matthew John Whittall Lodge, gave a most inspiring address, much too long to be included here except in part. The last paragraph reads:

You have established this new Lodge at the very threshold of a Masonic institution dedicated to a great benevolence, the relief of physical suffering. You have, most happily and appropriately, given your new Lodge the name of a Brother whose memory is cherished as a great-hearted Mason, whose accomplishments made possible our Masonic Hospital, Juniper Hall. You have founded in this busy community a Masonic Lodge consecrated to the tenets and principles of your profession as Masons. In so doing, you cannot be insensible to the consequences, for the attention of your fellow-townsmen will therefore be the most strongly focussed upon you, a constant reminder that you must assiduously "practice what you preach." Believing that you are fully cognizant of the added responsibility you have thus acquired as Masons, the Fraternity at large has full confidence in the future success of Matthew John Whittall Lodge.

On May 26, 1932, our records show that the Master and several members of the Fraternity gathered on the Juniper Hall Hospital grounds to dedicate an elm tree placed there on January 21, 1932, in memory of George Washington, and to be known as the George Washington Memorial Tree and so marked by a beautiful bronze tablet.

The meeting was opened by Wor. Ernest F. Maynard, Master, who requested Rev. John C. Breaker to ask the Divine Blessing and introduced Wor. Albert R. Webb, Chairman of this committee that consisted of all the Past Masters who were members of Matthew John Whittall Lodge. Wor. Bro. Webb spoke of the purpose of the meeting and introduced Most Worshipful Arthur D. Prince, the Relief Commissioner at that time, who responded with a most interesting address on Washington. The meeting was honored by the presence of Mrs. Gertrude Clark Whittall, R. W. Will A. Gray, District Deputy Grand Master for the Brookfield 21st Masonic District, his Marshal, Bro. Herbert E. Reed, R.W. Alfred E. Rankin, District Deputy Grand Master for the Worcester 22nd Masonic District, and his Marshal, Wor. Daniel N. Pickering.

At the close of the exercises, all present visited the Juniper Hall Hospital and viewed the picture of George Washington which had been given by Hon. Pehr G. Holmes, Member of Congress. This had been suitably framed and was hanging in the solarium.

On October 21, 1932, the 43rd regular and 4th annual communication of our Lodge was held in the Masonic quarters, Shrewsbury Club. Brother Matthew P. Whittall presented to Matthew John Whittall Lodge a very large picture of his father, the late R.W. Matthew John Whittall, in whose honor and memory this Lodge was named.

From the record of November 18, 1932, it is noted that on behalf of the Lodge, Wor. Brother Webb presented Wor. Ernest Maynard with a Past Master's jewel, and from the members of the Lodge, a Past Master's apron, the first such apron to be made under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. At the present time, it should be noted, that all Past Masters have now been presented with both jewels and aprons.

On January 19, 1934, the records show that Bro. Will Daniels presented to the Lodge an illuminated letter "G" and "All Seeing Eye." These were made by him personally.

In September, 1934, Wor. E. Stanley Wright presented to the Lodge an album of the Past Masters of Matthew John Whittall Lodge.

From the eighth annual report, October 16, 1936, we learn that Bro. Warren E. Buxton presented as a matter of record to the Lodge an account in detail of his duties as Master for the year just ended. This very clearly indicates the multiplicity of duties and responsibilities of the Master of our Lodge.

It is especially fitting and pleasing to note that one of our members, R.W. Ernest F. Maynard, was appointed by the Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, in 1938, to be the District Deputy Grand Master of the Worcester 22nd Masonic District.

Matthew John Whittall Lodge may justly be proud that one of its members in this way was appointed to receive this high and well-deserved honor. He was the first District Deputy Grand Master to be appointed from this Lodge.

On October 25, 1938, our new District Deputy Grand Master paid an official visit to Matthew John Whittall Lodge with his suite, consisting of Wor. Harold Daniels, Past Master of Matthew John Whittall Lodge and District Deputy Grand Marshal, and Wor. Eric Jacobson, Past Master of Olive Branch Lodge of Millbury and District Deputy Grand Secretary.

Brother Richard D. Duke first thought of a new altar for our Lodge when he drove by the Whittall mansion on Southbridge Street in Worcester, while it was being torn down. Bros. Ralph E. Rawling and Stanley J. Francis drove out to the mansion and selected various materials which appeared suitable for the project. These materials included sections of the pillars supporting the portico and choice pieces from the woodwork surrounding the large fireplace in the library. Bro. Stanley J. Francis, with help from Bros. Snyder and Duke, stripped many coats of paint from these sections and revealed sound pine and cypress pillars 14" in diameter built up from 18 segments each. The fireplace woodwork was found to be white wood. In August, 1946, Brother Francis started construction, endeavoring to complete a large but still portable altar with kneeling aprons. The altar and aprons were finished and upholstered in ample time to be used at the installation of officers at the Shrewsbury Congregational Church in October, 1946, when Bro. Rolland E. Maynard was installed as Master. Rev. Dr. Clarence E. Hellens dedicated the altar in the Lord's name at that time.

The center sections of the batons used by our Wardens and Marshal, also the handle section of the black gavel, were turned from black cherry wood obtained from a cherry tree on the Whittall Estate in Shrewsbury. The batons, baton racks, and gavel were also made by Brother Francis.

Our records show that we have had a steady increase in membership, until at the present time we have 320 active members.

The Lodge having in mind that sometime in the future it might be imperative to own a building for its meetings and other purposes, voted on October 10, 1947, that a committee of three be appointed by the Worshipful Master to draw up the necessary provisions to provide for a Building Fund. The committee so appointed consisted of Wor. Roger E. Holden and Brothers Chester W. Maynard and W. Ernest Stone. The articles approved appear under Article XVI of our by-laws. Our meeting here tonight marks another noteworthy event, the first official visitation of a Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts to our Lodge here in Shrewsbury. We are indeed greatly honored by this visitation. In closing this brief reference to our deeds and accomplishments for the past quarter century, we find much to be proud of and much to aid us in a clearer perception of reasonable hopes for the future. May we be ever mindful in the years to come of our duties and responsibilities as Freemasons and of what we owe to ourselves, to God, and our fellow man.