USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 2 > Part 23
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In 1906 the town voted to erect a monument to the memory of the soldiers and sailors who had enlisted from Attleboro and lost their lives in the War of 1861-1865, and a committee of seven was appointed to carry the project through. As a result, a monument was set up at Monument square, at a cost of $8,500, and the memorial was dedicated, with the assist- ance of William A. Streeter Post, No. 145, G. A. R., June 20, 1908. The committee consisted of Everett S. Horton, William H. Goff, Edward Caufy, Emmons D. Guild, George A. Sweeney, Charles O. Sweet, Edward A. Sweeney. In 1922, an avenue, at right angles to the memorial avenue at Capron Park, and running south, was named G. A. R. avenue, the dedi- cation being accompanied with the presence of a Confederate veteran.
William A. Streeter Woman's Relief Corps, No. 45, was instituted September 18, 1884, by Mrs. Sarah B. Fuller, department secretary, with twenty-two members. The corps, which had a membership of 156 in 1923, dedicated the entrance for the G. A. R. avenue at Capron Park, Memorial Sunday that year. Upon that avenue they have planted a tree for every past commander of the post, and in time there will be planted a tree for every member. The organization of patriotic women has placed flags in all schools and in all Sunday school rooms, and provided flags for the Boy Scouts. In 1914 the corps was honored by having one of its members elected department president of Massachusetts, and Mrs. Laura I. Smith, who was accorded that honor, was elected national senior vice-president the
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following year. The first president of the corps was Mrs. Lucy B. Marton. Past presidents in succession have been: Maria McDonald, 1890; E. Jennie Sweet, 1892; Laura I. Smith, 1896; Lucy A. Walker, 1900; Mary P. Hol- brook, 1901; Sarah W. Holmes, 1902; Lilla Crosby, 1904; Sarah Smith, 1905; Jennie Smith, 1907; Mamie Robinson, 1908; Laura I. Smith, 1909; Louisa Williams, 1912; Florence Swallow, 1913; Emma McCretton, 1914; Kate Williamson, 1915; Minnie Inman, 1916; Hattie Freeman, 1917; Mae Porter, 1918; Mary L. White, 1920; R. May Guyot, 1921; Sarah Gale, 1922; Martha Sylvia, 1923.
Sons of Veterans .- The present William A. Streeter Camp, No. 133, Sons of Veterans, was instituted in March, 1921, with twenty-seven charter members, the work of organization having been forwarded to success by Commander Harold E. Kenyon. The S. V. C. was Frank A. Chase, jr .; the J. V. C., Arthur A. Whipple; the treasurer, Harry E. Cooper; secretary, Roy W. Inman. Mr. Kenyon resigned his command in 1922, and was suc- ceeded by W. W. Peckham. The S. V. C. was A. T. Gunner; the J. V. C., Henry Pierce. The membership in 1923 was eighty-nine, and the officers were: Commander, A T. Gunner; S. V. C., R. E. Sherman; J. V. C., C. H. Bliss, with the same secretary and treasurer as at first. Two camps had been started previously-one in April, 1884, with a charter membership of twenty-three, and with the following-named officers: Captain C. Adin Smith; first lieutenant, O. W. Hawkins; second lieutenant, E. H. Davis; chaplain, George Pierce; orderly sergeant, W. H. Streeter; quartermaster- sergeant, E. A. Wales; color sergeant, C. H. Meyers; sergeant of the guard, J. A. Thayer ; corporal of the guard, L. A. Wales; camp guard, L. B. King- man; picket guard, J. F. Woodward; principal musician, F. I. Jackson. After a few years this camp disbanded, and it in turn was followed by another similar organization. The present camp has a flourishing and pro- gressive status. With the organization of the new camp, an auxiliary was formed.
William A. Streeter Auxiliary, S. of V., No. 133, was instituted in April, 1921, by Margaret Waters, past division president. There were fifty-three charter members, and Lorrian Hyde Kenyon was given the honor of the past presidency. The first officers were the following-named: President, Gertrude Eldridge; vice-president, Maude Card; chaplain, Lucy Walker; treasurer Minnis E. Inman; secretary, Gertrude Whitney; patriotic in- structor, Annie Clark; guide, Mary Morrison; assistant guide, Evelyn Slater ; color guards, Lois Vickery and Elvira Coyne; inside guard, Nellie Cummings; outside guard, Martha King; press correspondent, Maude Vick- ery; musician, Melvina Hilkins; judge advocate, Harold Kenyon. The following year, the officers were reelected. In 1923 they were: President, Georgianna Knight; vice-president, Etta Gunner; chaplain, Lena Bell; treasurer, Grace Gunner; secretary, Anne K. Jost; patriotic instructor, Jos- ephine Peckham; guides, Mary Morrison and Evelyn Slater; color guards, Agnes Fisher and Agnes Fittz; inside guard, Edith Tillson; outside guard, Lena Sherman; press correspondent, Elizabeth Stearns; pianist, Grace Austin; past president, Gertrude Eldridge; judge advocate, Albert Gunner. There was a membership of seventy-two in 1923.
Spanish War Veterans .- Major Herbert A. Clark Camp, No. 45, U. S.
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W. V., observed its fifteenth anniversary January 10, 1923. During the latter part of the year 1907, writes Carl J. Gronvald (thirteen years quarter- master of the camp), headed by Major George H. Sykes, the war captain of Company I, Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, several of the men who had served in contingents in the Spanish War began to hold prelim- inary meetings at the old G. A. R. Hall, corner Bank and Park streets, Major Sykes presiding as commander pro tem., Captain Lawrence W. Cook as adjutant, and Alfred P. Whitehill as quartermaster. At these meetings it was decided to name the camp after Major Herbert A. Clark, who served as major of the Fifth Massachusetts Infantry during the war with Spain. The first officers elected were as follows: Commander, George H. Sykes; S. V. C., Joel M. Nichols; J. V. C., James W. Rhind; officer of the day, Max London; officer of the guard, Frank J. Blaine; surgeon, George A. Menard; trustees for three, two and one years respectively: Carl J. Gron- vald, Harry C. Brandt, Frank C. Abbott; and the commander made the following appointments: Adjutant, Captain Lawrence W. Cook; quarter- master-sergeant, Edward M. Spencer. The camp mustered in, January 10, 1908. Captain Lawrence W. Cook was appointed commander in place of Major Sykes, who declined to serve, for business reasons. William H. Chadbourne was appointed adjutant in place of Commander Cook.
The Camp had its first inspection February 7; and on May 30 attended its first Memorial Day service, that has been the usage ever since. Uni- forms were secured that year, and a $100 set of colors purchased. There were forty-eight names on the charter list in September. In December the Camp commenced to hold meetings at Barden's Hall, and June 1, 1911, ad- mitted as a member James E. Murphy, who was a member of the crew of the "Merrimac" when that ship was sunk in Santiago harbor. May 17, 1917, the members of the camp offered their services to the mayor, and Liberty bonds were purchased June 7 and October 8. The year closed with sixty-three members. The present quarters on Pine street have been U. S. W. V. headquarters since 1919. The camp has participated in all the World War events, and in various of the municipal parades. The past commanders: Lawrence W. Cook, 1908-09; Joel M. Nichols, 1910; Charles E. Cunningham, 1911, and part of 1912; Charles H. Card, balance of 1912; William F. Douglas, 1913; Jacob Eugster, 1914; Felix Dorsett. 1915; Walter E. Gorman, 1916-17; Clyde R. Barnhill, 1918; Maurice Wheeler, 1919; Her- bert E. Bennett, 1920; Charles H. Card, 1921; Walter N. Jutras, 1922.
A Ladies' Auxiliary for the camp was formed March 23, 1910. Mrs. W. E. Gorman was the first president. The officers in 1923: President, Mary Lee; S. V. P., Fabiola Jutras; J. V. P., Anna Jackson; chaplain, Caroline Videtto; secretary, Inez Cunningham; treasurer, Alice Burnhill; historian, Mollie McEnroe; patriotic instructor, Agnes Wing.
· American Legion .- The call for the organization of a Post of the American Legion in Attleboro was effected by Captain Charles T. Crossman and Herbert C. Crowell. The first meeting for organization was held at Chamber of Commerce headquarters, May 26, 1919, with the following- ni med attending: Captain Charles T. Crossman, Herbert C. Crowell, C. Raymond Carpenter, John A. Ferguson, Earl Williams, Joseph L. Fuller, William Ebert. The next meeting was held a week later, at the residence of C. Raymond Carpenter, when it was decided that the post be represented
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at the Worcester convention of the Legion, June 6, 1919. By that time twenty-one members were enrolled. Messrs. Crossman, Crowell, Carpenter, Lawson and Pinkham represented the post at the convention, where the charter was received. Five members represented the post at the national convention in November, and Captain Crossman was a delegate to the national convention at Minneapolis. These were the first officers: Com- mander, John A. Ferguson; vice-commander, C. Raymond Carpenter; ad- jutant, Herbert C. Crowell; treasurer, Dr. John A. Reese; trustees, Charles T. Crossman and G. Roger Sturtevant. Officers in 1920: Commander, Har- old Semple, upon whose resignation Dr. John W. Clarke was elected to that position ; vice-commander, Lawson Pinkham; finance officer, Dr. John A. Reese ; assistant finance officer, Herbert S. Faulkner; adjutant, C. Raymond Carpenter ; sergeant-major, Joseph C. Fuller; chaplain, Harry Chalmers ; historian, Solomon Rotenberg. The officers in 1921: Commander, Dr. Joshua W. Clark; first V. C., Raymond Knight; second V. C., Daniel Lam- mond; adjutant, C. Raymond Carpenter ; finance officer, Dr. John A. Reese; Chaplain, Charles T. Crossman; historian, Frank H. Straker ; sergeant-major, Miss Catherine Woodward; assistant finance officer, Frederick Hawkins; sergeant-at-arms, John A. Ferguson. The membership of the local Legion in 1923 was about 200. The organization purchased the J. M. Bates estate on North Main street, and furnished the barn in the property as club-rooms. The officers for 1922: Commander, Forster C. Burbank; S. V. C., Ralph Simmonds; J. V. C., Charles B. Cooper; chaplain, Peter Whalley; adjutant, Fred Walker ; finance officer, Fred Hawkins; assistant finance officer, Harold Bates; sergeant-major, Frank White, Jr .; historian, Pearl Baker. For 1923: Comn:ander, Charles B. Cooper; S. V. C., Emory Boudreau; J. V. C., Lin- dred C. Thurber ; chaplain, Peter Whalley; finance officer, Anton Butziger; assistant finance officer, John Ferguson; adjutant, Alfred H. Patterson; sergeant-major, Edward Martineau; historian, Pearl Baker.
The Women's Auxiliary unit of Attleboro Post, No. 20, American Legion, was organized at the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, January 19, 1920, with the following-named officers : President, Alice A. Clarke ; vice- president, Rosamond Carpenter; treasurer, Lizetta Fiske; secretary, Minnie L. Wiggmore; assistant secretary, Ethel Faulkner. The temporary charter was received April 5, 1920. Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Crossman were delegates to the State convention at Boston. The officers for 1921 : President, Alice. A. Clarke; vice-president, Clara Jeffers; secretary, Rosa- mond Carpenter; treasurer, Florence Lamond; chaplain, Annie Geddes; guard, Gertrude Bates; conductress, Nabby Coffey. The Legion and Aux- iliary visited Norfolk Hospital on Christmas eve, and entertained the Nor- folk post at a basket-ball game at the armory, January 7. The first meeting at the Legion Home, 120 North Main street, was held May 2, 1921. Dinner was served all ex-service men at the Legion Home, Memorial Day, 1921. · The W. R. C. presented the auxiliary with an altar-cover June 6, and the Spanish War Veterans Auxiliary presented them with a gavel. Officers for 1922: President, Alice A. Clarke; first vice-president, Alice Angell; second vice-vresident, Mary Patterson; secretary, Ethel Faulkner; treas- urer, Florence Lamond; chaplain, Florence Straker; sentry, Gertrude Bates; historian, Jessie Walker.
From May 9, the name was changed to American Legion Auxiliary.
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On Mothers' Day, in May, the members of the auxiliary called upon every gold-star mother. The banquet this year for ex-service men was in charge of Mrs. Emma Allen, and the auxiliary assisted the Red Cross membership drive and the tuberculosis stamp drive. Officers for 1923: President, Alice Angell; first vice-president, Gertrude Crossman; second vice-president, Mary Patterson; secretary, Ethel Faulkner; treasurer, Myrtle Baker; chaplain, Florence Straker; conductor, Gladys Moore; guard, Gertrude Bates; his- torian, Vera Palmer. There was a public installation January 16. The May festival was conducted by the Legion, with Mrs. Roy C. Woodworth of the auxiliary as chairman. The membership August 1, 1923 was 241.
Veterans of Foreign Wars .- Almost upon the arrival home of the men who shared in the World War, the work of organizing a Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars was begun. First meetings were held in Spanish War Veterans Hall, and on the evening of March 21, 1918, Gilbert-Perry Post was formed as a memorial to Jerome F. Gilbert and Joseph Perry, two Attleboro boys who lost their lives in the war. At about the same time the new post organized a drum and bugle corps. The first officers were: Commander, John H. Candelet; senior vice-commander, Joseph Gilbert; junior vice-commander, Roy Matteson; adjutant, Roy Gronvald. The Veter- ans have been occupying their County street hall since 1919. In succession, the presidents of the post have been Joseph Gilbert, Thomas Monahan, and in 1923, Otis Barton. The other officers in 1923: Senior vice-commander, Harry Ayette; junior vice-commander, J. Davignon; adjutant, William Wetherell; quartermaster, Carl J. Gronvald; quartermaster-sergeant, Wil- liam Beland; chaplain, Harry Lessart.
The Ladies' Auxiliary to Gilbert-Perry Post, V. F. W., was formed October 20, 1919, with forty charter members. The first officers were: President, Maud Candelet; senior vice-president, Hattie Burns; junior vice- president, Martha Sylvia; treasurer, Alice Cronan; secretary, Jennie Cronan ; chaplain, Elsie Cook; conductress, Ethel White; historian, Mildred Mat- teson; patriotic instructor, Esther Flanagan. The president in 1921 was Martha Sylvia; and the leading officers in 1922 and 1923: President, Mary McDonald; secretary, Lola Seeton; treasurer, Sadie Witherell. There were 104 members in 1923.
Company I Association .- The present Company I Association, as organ- ized in 1923 by Captain Charles T. Crossman and a number of other veterans of wars, has for its purpose the perpetuation of the name and patriotic aims of the old Company I, Fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that was mustered into service June 15, 1861. At the first meeting for organization in 1923, there were thirty-two charter members, and the membership the latter part of that year numbered ninety-seven, the officers being Captain Charles T. Crossman, president; Major George H. Sykes, vice-president; David L. Low, secretary; Ernest F. Childs, treasurer; Fred Northup, his- torian. The outline of the story of Company I during the Civil War has been told in the chapter relating to that event. For years after the war, and after that company had been disbanded, a desire had been expressed to form an independent military company here, and the opportunity to do so came in 1887, when under a new law, the military force of the State was increased.
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With the preliminary meeting in Engine Hall, October 5, 1887, and with temporary organization effected, George A. Adams was elected captain, Thomas K. Gay first lieutenant, O. P. Richardson, Jr., second lieutenant. There were sixty-four charter members, and on November 18, 1887, the company was mustered into service by Colonel Bancroft as Company I, Fifth Regiment, M. V. M., the names of the original company being as follows: George A. Adams, George L. Bullard, Bradford Bullock, C. E. Briggs, F. B. Eldridge, Thomas K. Gay, E. L. Gowen, O. W. Hawkins, F. E. Keeler, Charles Allen, E. H. Briggs, W. B. Bliss, H. A. Clark, A. G. Fuller, F. C. Gray, L. F. Goff, A. S. Ingraham, O. A. Knight, W. B. Allen, A. S. Blackinton, jr., C. T. Burr, J. D. Chilson, C. F. Forrester, A. A. Guild, W. H. Goff, L. B. Kingman, D. L. Lowe, J. H. Lewis, W. T. Mason, Samuel McCartney, A. W. Parmenter, G. F. Power, C. F. Rhodes, C. H. Swift, C. A. Sturdy, F. E. Tripp, D. E. Wilmarth, H. C. Luther, Eugene Martin, T. T. McAdams, G. A. Pierce, O. P. Richardson, jr., C. E. Richards, G. E. Snow, David Smiley, E. A. Taylor, G. O. Wilmarth, E. F. Young, F. L. Morse, R. D. Manchester, G. C. Parker, H. R. Packard, A. M. Rich- ards, C. A. Richardson, G. H. Sykes, F. E. Smith, J. F. Woodard, M. L. Wood; and February 27, 1888, the following-named were also mustered in: F. E. Allen, F. C. Power, O. P. Bliss, I. W. Smith, J. E. Pagney, George White.
These were the first commissioned officers of the company: Captain William H. Goff; First lieutenant George A. Adams; Second lieutenant O. P. Richardson, jr., and the non-commissioned officers appointed by the captain were: Sergeants-Fred L. Morse, Herbert A. Clark, Thomas K. Gay, D. E. Wilmarth, Clarence E. Richards; corporals-Frank E. Keeler, George H. Sykes, Amos S. Blackinton, Charles A. Sturdy. From the time of its first inspection, Company I held a high place, and it has always maintained that standard. Regimental field day manœuvers were held here in 1890 as a compliment to the company. In 1896, Captain William H. Goff retiring, Herbert Clark was elected captain. George H. Sykes was appointed the captain of the company upon the retirement of Captain Clark in 1897, and so continued through the period of the Spanish-American War. Upon the reorganization of the company after that war, Charles A. Richard- son was captain, his brother O. P. Richardson, Jr., having been an officer in the company previously. Upon his retirement in 1900, William H. Goff, Jr., became. the company's chief officer, his father, William H. Goff, having been the original captain. In 1904, Fred Northrup was captain, and so continued to 1906, when the office was held by Lawrence Cook. In 1913, Thomas J. Williams was the captain, and with it went to the Mexican border, when Charles T. Crossman was first lieutenant, and Henry Neville second lieutenant. The company was called out to the service of the World War, July 25, 1917. In August, 1917, it was broken up at Framingham, and merging with the Ninth Massachusetts formed the 101st. Thus closed the military history of Company I and of the Fifth Regiment as such organiza- tions by name.
Captain Charles T. Crossman, the present president of the association, who left Attleboro as first lieutenant in Company I of the 101st Infantry, was promoted for meritorious service, and was cited for extraordinary bravery while in action in France. Corporal Joseph Perry, who was with
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Company I on the Mexican border, and again when it went to Framingham, was made a corporal overseas, and was killed in action, November 27, 1918. Private Earle I. Brown, of that company, died of wounds in France, Sep- tember 12, 1918; Private Harry Atterian died October 26, 1918, of wounds received in action in France; Charles O. Fiske died of fever in France, De- cember 17, 1918; Percy E. Cobb died of disease in France, June 14, 1918; Jerome F. Gilbert died of wounds in France, June 15, 1918; Albert Larose was killed in action in France, October 24, 1918; Joseph L. Ritchie was killed in action in France, October 26, 1918; Edward Quintin died in France in October, 1918; Corporal Lester L. Simmons was killed in action in France, October 25, 1918; Sergeant Herbert D. Parmenter died in the ser- vice October 24, 1918. Following the battle of Seicheprey, where Company I figured so largely in the casualties, President Wilson, through Secretary Tumulty, forwarded to the editor of the Attleboro Sun a letter of sympathy and appreciation.
The following is the roster of Company I Fifth Massachusetts, as com- piled in July, 1917, just before the company left Attleboro:
Captain Thomas F. Williams; First lieutenant Charles T. Crossman; Second lieutenant Henry Neville; First sergeant Frank Mowry; Sergeants Ervin E. M. Gross, Fred E. French, Clifford E. Pierce, Herbert D. Pramenter, George W. Hatch; Cor- porals Squire Bray, Robert J. Bell, Alex T. Sim, Aime Fredette, Lewin W. Laflamme, George F. Spencer, Robert H. Danis, Raymond H. Pike; Cooks: Arthur W. Pike, Herbert E. Robinson; Mechanic, Howard E. Walker; Buglers, Benjamin F. Morrill, Joseph Perry; Privates: Ernest C. Blakely, William Boutan, Walter L. Bouvé, Harry M. Chase, Norman F. Danis, Manuel Duigmedgian, Clarence F. Garfield, Chester P. Goff, Raymond W. Johnson, Ermond Leroux, Frank Miller, Florian C. Pinault, Dona Roy, Frank J. Tallon, Lawrence D. Williams, Frank W. Alward, Harry Atterian, Lowell Barden, Henry Barlow, Harvey Barton, William E. Bell, William H. Blaney, Ronald Braman, Earle I. Brown, Charles H. Cash, Chester Cheetham, Henry Com- mettee, Stanley O. Cook, Thomas J. Corrigan, Ovida S. Davignon, Fred B. Dodd, Napoleon Duhamel, F. Daley, Raymond Fisher, Arthur J. Fournier, Walter R. Frazier, Howard R. Gallipeau, Charles A. Gardner, Ernest C. Gardner, David Goodwin, Philip Jacobs, Joseph Jacobs, James W. Johnson, Joseph C. Julius, Michael J. Keeley, Romeo LaFerriere, Leroy Matteson, Arthur Mercier, James J. Morris, William H. Nicholson, Arthur O'Keefe, William E. Packard, Willis Peao, Frank Perry, Leo F. Richardson, Elmer E. Robinson, Eugene Roy, Lester Simmons, Elmer Tingley, Adelbert Treen, Albert J. Trembley, Charles E. Twombly, Theodore Unu, Frank E. White, Alfred D. Willmore, Arthur W. Wilson, Philip Wright, George Champagne, George H. Caswell, Kenneth L. Crook, Henry Dion, Frank Forrester, Jerome F. Gil- bert, Joseph Godfrey, John R. Granger, George Keefe, Adelard LePage, Wilfred Roy, William J. Tatro, John E. Wilbur, George Doucette, George F. Bigger, John W. McCue, Ernest F. Childs, Lawrence W. Foster, Joseph L. Pard, Joseph L. Ritchie, Joseph Deland, John Dion, Harry F. Downes, William Gagnon, William McDonald, Leroy F. Webber, Fred J. Sutherland, Charles Bennett, Milton Eddy, William Bears, Amedie F. Marien, Samuel Caron, Walter Darling, Joseph Hall, Thomas F. McDonnell, Bruce H. Miller, Isaac Proulx, James Shaughnessey, William Desonier, Emery Dunton, Arthur Pickup, Eloi F. Arsenault, Frank Guillman, Elwell S. Jelison, Herbert Mc- Donald, Theodore G. Peterson, Joseph Ringuette, Vaughn S. Silva, Albert Hevey, Eugene Joubert, Ernest Holt.
The State Armory on Pine street was built in 1910.
Masonic Fraternity .- Ezekiel Bates Lodge, A. F. and A. M., chartered April 9, 1870, may be called the offspring of Bristol Lodge, A. F. and A. M., which was organized in Norton in 1797, moved to Attleboro East Precinct, in 1812, and in 1830 removed to North Attleboro. About the year 1868,
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twenty-four brothers resident in Attleboro, all but one of them members of Bristol Lodge, eager to establish a separate lodge in the east part of the town, became active to that end, and finally, through the influence of Ezekiel Bates, a resident of the town and a member and past master of Saint Andrew's Lodge, A. F. and A. M., secured a dispensation from the M. W. Grand Lodge, and Ezekiel Bates Lodge was formed under dispensa- tion, with Daniel H. Smith as its first master. Arrangements were made with Lyman Dean to add another story to the block he was then building on Park street for a Masonic hall, which was dedicated, and the lodge formally constituted on September 6, 1871. Brother Ezekiel Bates, for whom the lodge was named, and who presented the lodge with the beautiful jewels now in use for the officials, and who was its benefactor in many other ways, died in March, 1871, before the constitution of the lodge. The lodge grew in numbers, and at the expiration of a five years' lease of Dean's Hall, arrangements were made with Brother James H. Sturdy for more pre- tentious headquarters in the two upper stories of the brick block he was then planning to build; and in 1876 a fifteen years' lease was taken, and the lodge moved to the Sturdy building, where it remained until 1895, when its apartments in the Bronson building were leased. In 1883, the lodge, some $1,500 in debt, held a three nights' fair in the new watch-case factory of Brother Joseph M. Bates, liquidated all debts, and turned over to the trus- tees a surplus of $2,600 as a permanent fund. From that time onwards the lodge has prospered and grown to its present large membership.
Attleboro Council, Royal and Select Masters, at the date of precedence, December 11, 1872, had twenty-one charter members. The membership in 1923 was 288, and the officers for the year ending September, 1923, were: Thrice Illustrious Master Ralph C. Estes; deputy master, Fred H. Richards; principal conductor of the work, Charles D. Blaikie; treasurer, Harlan A. Allen; recorder, Illustrious Winthrop F. Barden.
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