USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The history of Montacute Lodge A.F. & A.M. > Part 2
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DEDICATION OF BOSTON TEMPLE
A week after the dedication of the Pearl Street Apartments the Lodge again travelled to Boston to participate in the dedication of the new Temple there. This time the members had to arise even earlier than on the previous visit, for they assembled at five o'clock A.M. A special train on the Boston & Worcester R.R. conveyed them to Boston where they arrived at 8 o'clock and proceeded to the Common for the formation of the parade. Only the Master and Wardens attended the ceremonies of dedication. After their con- clusion the procession began to move through some of the principal
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
streets to Music Hall where an address was delivered by Rev. Bro. William S. Studley. The train left for the return trip to Worcester at eight o'clock P.M.
THE MONTACUTE BANNER
In anticipation of these public appearances the Lodge felt it should have a banner and a committee was appointed the preced- ing February. At the April regular the committee submitted a Ban- ner, the gift of our member, Bro. James H. Wall, Jr. It has been described as "a beautiful emblem, the material of which was white satin on which were emblazoned the arms and motto of Lord Montacute together with the three Great Lights and the date of the institution of the Lodge." However, the lapse of time has long since caused its destruction.
MONTACUTE OR MONTAGUE
Apparently some of the brethren were not satisfied in their minds as to whether Montacute Lodge was properly named. On November 1, 1869 the following action was taken: "On motion of Bro. William A. Smith, it was Voted, that the first three officers of this Lodge memorialize the Grand Lodge that the vexed question whether the name of the lord from whom this Lodge was named was Montacute or Montague be settled." At the next quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge a committee was appointed consisting of Past Grand Masters John T. Heard and Winslow Lewis and the Master of Montacute Lodge, Wor. Henry C. Willson to
1st. Determine whether the title of Viscount, created in 1554, in favor of Sir Anthony Brown, was Montacute or Montague and
2nd. Ascertain what were the arms of the family of Anthony Brown.
The committee made a very thorough investigation and reported a year later, December 14, 1870. They submitted evidence, both Masonic and other than Masonic. The Masonic evidence included records of the Grand Lodge of England and the Saint John's Grand Lodge (Massachusetts) and Constitutions printed both in England and America. The other than Masonic evidence was from various
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
publications, works on the peerage of England, the lineage of the family of Anthony Brown, the Viscount for whom our Lodge is named, monumental inscriptions, a copy of the patent creating the first Sir Anthony Brown a Viscount, armorial devices and many other documents. The report covered over one hundred pages in the printed proceedings of the Grand Lodge. This evidence was very conflicting. Quoting from the report: "in several cases the same author refers to it (the title of the viscountancy ) in one place as Montague or Montagu and in another as Montacute." The com- mittee quoted one authority as saying: "alluding to both names, they referred to a sharp-hill in Somersetshire, 'from which the illus- trious family of Montacute, sometimes earls of Salisbury, took their surname.'" The Latin derivation would be mons,m, a high hill, and acutus, adj., sharp; the French, mont, m., mountain, and aigu, adj., m., and aigue, f., sharp. Public documents and records, after the con- quest, were sometimes written in one and sometimes in the other of these tongues; so that it is probable that the names and titles mentioned therein took a form suited to the language employed.
Anthony Brown was a descendant of the Montacutes, but the name and title had long since lapsed. He was the sixth Viscount and the patent creating his ancestor, the first Viscount, in every instance is given as "Montague."
In commenting on the coat of arms, the committee said that it is not probable that the Viscounts had particular arms representing their honorary title. On the seal of Montacute Lodge the Ist and 4th quarters of the arms bear those of the Brown family, while the 2nd and 3rd quarters those of the Montacutes.
The report concluded with these recommendations:
1st. That Montacute Lodge have leave, on their petitioning there- for, to change their name to Montague Lodge, and
2nd. That, as the Grand Lodge has hitherto permitted Lodges to determine what devices their respective seals should bear, Monta- cute be free to continue to use their present seal or to change the devices thereon according to their taste and inclination.
A few years later M.W. Bro. Heard sent to Montacute Lodge a clipping from a Masonic periodical, the "Keystone," which reported a statement in 1874 of the Lord Chancellor of England in the course of a legal examination. He said that it appeared to him "that not-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
withstanding the difference in style, which is merely apparent and not real, because the names 'Montague' and 'Montacute' appear to have been used, both at this time and for many hundreds of years before, interchangeably, and in point of fact, were one and the same word." In his letter accompanying the clipping Wor. Bro. Heard said: "You will observe that the titles were used for centuries interchangeably according to the highest authority of the present day.
As further evidence of this interchangeability reference is made to an item in a recent English publication, "The Pocket History of Free-Masonry" by Pick and Knight. In 1721, another Montague had been chosen Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. He was John, Duke of Montague. In 1930 when the new Bank of England was being built a "Foundation Stone" was uncovered, having inscribed upon it the names of two men designated as Masons and underneath, the words:
Anno Masonry 5722 Ld. Montacute, G. Master
Montacute never availed itself of the permission to change its name. Whatever may have been the correct title of the Viscount, our Lodge has now borne the name Montacute for one hundred years.
PAST MASTERS' JEWELS
We find that on December 6, 1869 a gold Past Master's jewel was presented to Wor. John W. Jordan, who had recently retired as Master. This is the first record we have of the presentation of such a jewel. Brother Jordan, in turn, "surprised the Lodge" with the gift of four "beautiful" silver Past Masters' jewels with collars for the same. These were to be the property of the Lodge for the use of any Past Master who might attend the meetings in the same manner as we now furnish aprons for the members attending Lodge. The same year a similar jewel was bestowed on Past Master William S. Goodwin as a Christmas gift. Wor. Bro. Goodwin was then in his last illness and died a few days later. Many years later this jewel was returned to the Lodge by Wor. Bro. Goodwin's daughter and is now in our archives. It differs in design from those now used. A few months later Past Master Emery Wilson emulated Wor. Bro.
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Jordan and, as stated in the record, the Lodge was again "surprised" by the gift of four beautiful Past Masters' aprons. From this time jewels were given irregularly for awhile, the expense being borne by subscriptions by the members. One was presented to our first Master, Wor. William A. Smith, in 1871. In 1880 it was voted to procure jewels for the two Past Masters most recently in office at the expense of the Lodge and since that time it has been the cus- tom to present each retiring Master a jewel to be paid for out of the Lodge treasury.
GRAND LODGE TAXES OR DUES
In 1867 the Grand Lodge laid a "capitation tax" on all affili- ated Masons of one dollar per year for a period of thirteen years. A member could "commute," as it was called, by paying ten dollars at once and thereafter be exempt from the yearly payments. This tax was for the purpose of paying off the indebtedness of the Grand Lodge on the new Boston Masonic Temple. In 1868 Montacute Lodge raised its degree fee ten dollars, the fee to include the appli- cant's commutation to the Grand Lodge.
At the end of the thirteen-year period the Grand Lodge indebted- ness had not been wiped out and the capitation tax was extended for fifteen years from September 1, 1879. As before, members could commute by payment of ten dollars. The Grand Lodge made efforts to induce the Lodges to commute as a whole. On August 7, 1882 the Grand Master, M.W. Samuel C. Lawrence, paid a visit to Montacute Lodge for the purpose of inducing it to commute as a whole. After he had been received the Master informed him that his wishes had already been acceded to, for the Lodge had passed the necessary vote just previous to his entrance.
After the expiration of the fifteen-year period no further Grand Lodge taxes were levied on the members until 1924, when the present Grand Lodge dues were adopted. They were at first two dollars per year, raised to three dollars in 1949.
REMOVAL OF REMAINS OF ISAIAH THOMAS TO RURAL CEMETERY
On Saint John's Day, June 24, 1878, the remains of Isaiah Thomas, the first Master of Morning Star Lodge and a Past Grand
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
Master, were transferred from the old Mechanic Street Burial Ground, which was being discontinued, to Rural Cemetery under the direction of the municipal authorities of Worcester. The Grand Lodge had accepted an invitation from the civic authorities to take part in the services. On this occasion Montacute Lodge participated with all the other Worcester Masonic bodies, the Grand Lodge, Grand Royal Arch Chapter, the city government, members of the Thomas family and various civic organizations with which Isaiah Thomas had been associated. Montacute Lodge did not appear as a separate organization. Its members and those of other Lodges marched in the procession with Morning Star Lodge. The proces- sion stopped at Mechanics Hall where Mayor Charles B. Pratt, a member of Montacute Lodge, introduced the speakers, represent- ing the American Antiquarian Society, the Press and other organi- zations. After these exercises the procession was re-formed and moved to Rural Cemetery where the remains were re-committed in the family tomb with the Masonic burial service conducted by the Grand Master, M.W. Charles A. Welch. Bearers were four Past Masters, one from each of the Worcester Lodges. Wor. William A. Smith represented Montacute Lodge. One-half of the cost of the new lot in Rural Cemetery was borne by the Worcester Masonic Lodges. Montacute's share was fifty dollars.
QUINSIGAMOND LODGE CHARTERED
In 1871 Montacute Lodge again contributed to the formation of a new Lodge when six of its members demitted to become charter members of Quinsigamond Lodge. Of this group Bro. Henry C. Wadsworth became the first Master.
RESIGNATION OF MASTER
Bro. Quincy A. Thomas was elected Master in 1882. He re- signed the next March owing to a change in his business. The Senior Warden, Bro. Herbert J. Fisher, was chosen to fill the vacancy. Wor. Bro. Fisher was re-elected at the next annual communication, but declined to be installed and a special election had to be held. This is the only occasion when a Master of Montacute Lodge has resigned, or when one who has been elected to the office has refused to accept.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
NON-OBSERVANCE OF 25TH ANNIVERSARY
For reasons not given a committee reported in 1884 that it was inexpedient to observe the twenty-fifth anniversary of the insti- tution of the Lodge.
PRINTED NOTICES OF MEETINGS
The custom of sending printed notices of all communications to the members was begun in 1889. The use of newspaper notices was discontinued.
THE BOARD OF RELIEF AND THE MASONIC BURIAL LOT
In 1894 a plan was proposed for the formation of a Board of Relief whose main duty would be to look after transient relief cases. This board superseded a General Relief Committee which had existed since 1871 and was composed of one member from each of the Worcester Masonic Bodies. In 1899 the Board brought to the attention of the fraternity the need of a Masonic burial lot in one of the cemeteries. Montacute Lodge voted to contribute its share, $45, for the purchase of a lot in Hope Cemetery. A few years later the Lodges erected on it a monument in the form of a Masonic altar on which was a closed Bible and the square and compasses. Wor. H. Lyman Rawson, when he was Master in 1928, conceived the idea of having flowers planted around the monument before each Memorial Day. He interested the Masters of the other Lodges in sharing the expense. Under Montacute leadership a yearly plant- ing was made until 1944. In that year the Worcester Masonic Char- ity and Educational Association acquired title to the lot from the old Board of Relief and since has assumed care of it.
THE WORCESTER MASONIC CHARITY AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO BUILD A MASONIC TEMPLE
After the Fraternity had occupied the Pearl Street Apart- ments for nearly thirty years it was natural that it should be thinking of a Temple of its own. As early as 1885 dissatisfaction with the quarters and the need for enlarged accommodations had been ex-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
pressed. The rooms had been well managed by an organization called the Directors of the Masonic Fraternity consisting of three representatives from each of the Masonic bodies. In 1893 this Board was incorporated as the Trustees of the Masonic Fraternity of Worcester. It is now dormant although still in existence.
At the regular communication in July, 1895 a resolution was adopted approving organizing and incorporating a Masonic Build- ing Association for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a Masonic Temple in Worcester. Such an organization was formed, and was called "The General Masonic Committee of 33," which was incorporated the next year (1896) as the "Worcester Masonic Charity and Educational Association." Montacute Lodge chose as its first representatives Brothers James Logan, Charles S. Chapin, and Abram A. Rheutan. Mass meetings of the Fraternity were held in Horticultural Hall; committees appointed on Site, Finance, and Building; and many pledges and contributions were received. For awhile much enthusiasm for the project was shown. The Committee on Sites, of which our member, Bro. James Logan was chairman, examined no less than thirty-five pieces of property and finally settled on the lot on which the present Temple stands. It was pur- chased in September, 1896.
Then the enthusiasm began to wane. To finance the project the Association had proposed that each Masonic body adopt amend- ments to its By-Laws providing, among other things, that for twenty-five years each initiate should contribute ten dollars and each member, including Life Members, be assessed two dollars per year. These amendments were duly proposed in Montacute Lodge, but were rejected by a vote of 77 to 1 at the regular meeting in February, 1898. At about this time the Grand Lodge was consid- ering assessing all members a dollar a year to build up the Grand Lodge charity funds. This proposal also met with disfavor in Monta- cute Lodge. In only two of the eleven bodies were the amendments adopted. Many felt that the cost of the Temple as planned was excessive; others were dissatisfied with the site; and the project was given up until it was revived eleven years later.
THE WAR OF 1898
The year was 1898 and again the war drums were sounding.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
The Secretary, Bro. Harry A. Marvin, answered the call of his coun- try. Bro. Ephraim H. H. Wilson was chosen as his successor and served for nineteen years. Only three of his predecessors had served for as much as six or seven years, all but one of the others only one, two or three years each.
PAST MASTERS' NIGHTS
The first recorded Past Masters' Night was held on April 17, 1905, with our first Master, R.W. William A. Smith, in attendance. Another was not held until May 22, 1916, when seventeen of the twenty-six living Past Masters were present. In more recent years a Past Masters' Night has become an annual event.
FATHERS AND SONS IN OFFICE
November 26, 1906 Past Master Frank M. Heath had the pleasure of installing his son, Austin A. Heath, as Master of Monta- cute Lodge. Two years later, with Austin Heath as Marshal, he seated another son, Melville F. Heath, in the oriental chair. This is the only father and son combination in the Mastership of Montacute Lodge. However, in the Treasurership there are two such instances, one being a father, son and grandson combination. Bro. John F. Howell ( serving 17 years), his son, Bro. John H. Howell (9 years ), and, after an interim, his grandson, Wor. Leonard W. Howell, the present incumbent (9 years to date), have held the office for 35 years. Bro. Edward M. Woodward (8 years) and his son R.W. Edward M. Woodward, Jr. (12 years ) held the Lodge's purse strings for twenty years.
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Montacute Lodge was now approaching its fiftieth year. At the regular communication held on the 4th day of March, 1907, upon motion of Wor. George M. Rice, it was voted to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the institution of the Lodge and that the Worshipful Master, at some future meeting, appoint a committee of five with power to make all necessary arrangements therefor.
At the regular communication on the 6th day of May following,
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
Wor. George M. Rice was, by a rising vote, unanimously elected to prepare and deliver an historical address on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary. At the same meeting the Master appointed the Committee on Arrangements, namely: R.W. Forrest E. Barker, Wor. Bros. Frank M. Heath, Robert W. Clifford, Fred M. Sampson, and Bro. William W. Brown. A year later Wor. Austin A. Heath, the junior Past Master, who had appointed the committee and ac- tively cooperated in its work, was elected by formal vote of the Lodge a member of the committee.
At the regular communication on December 2, 1907 the Trustees of the Permanent Fund were, by unanimous vote, instructed to pay into the treasury of the Lodge, upon order of the chairman of the committee on semi-centennial, such a sum or sums, not exceeding at total of $1,000.00, as might from time to time be needed for ac- count of the celebration.
In accordance with the plans worked out by the committee, a special communication of Montacute Lodge was opened at ten o'clock in the forenoon of Sunday, June 21, 1908 with the officers and one hundred and ninety-four brethren present. The Grand Master, M.W. J. Albert Blake and suite were received. Then it was announced that the Lodge had accepted an invitation from Rev. Bro. Vincent E. Tomlinson, a member of Montacute Lodge, to attend divine worship at the First Universalist Church. The Lodge was formed in procession and marched to the church on Pleasant Street where an "impressive and interesting sermon, especially suited to the occasion," was delivered by Dr. Tomlinson. He was assisted during the responsive readings at the opening of the service by Bro. Joseph Jackson, Chaplain of the Lodge. After the service the Lodge returned to the Lodge room where it was called from labor to refreshment.
On Monday, June 22nd, at three o'clock in the afternoon, the Worshipful Master, for the purpose of continuing the celebration, called the Lodge from refreshment to labor and the Grand Master and suite were received. The exercises consisted of an address by Rev. Bro. R. Perry Bush; the reading of an original poem by Bro. Joseph Jackson, Chaplain of Montacute Lodge; the History of the Lodge (later printed) by Wor. George M. Rice; and selections by an eight-piece orchestral group composed of members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. At 6:30 two hundred and sixty brethren as-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
sembled in Association Hall in the Y.M.C.A. Building on Elm Street where, after a prayer by the Grand Chaplain, a banquet was served. At its conclusion the Master introduced R.W. Forrest E. Barker as Toastmaster. The after-dinner speakers included the Grand Master, M.W. J. Albert Blake, and our first Master, R.W. William A. Smith. Among the guests was Bro. James Logan, Mayor of Worcester and a member of Montacute Lodge. At the conclusion of the speaking the officers returned to the Lodge Room where Montacute Lodge was called from refreshment to labor and closed in form.
THE MASONIC HOME
Automobiles were more of a novelty then than now. To en- tertain the Grand Officers on Sunday afternoon they were taken on an automobile trip to Fitchburg, where dinner was served, thence to the "Hotel Overlook" at Charlton, now the Masonic Home. At the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge in December, 1908 the Masonic Home Committee recommended the purchase of the Overlook property and immediately after the adoption of the recommendation one of our Past Masters and a Past Senior Grand Warden, R.W. Forrest E. Barker "tendered the furnishing of a room by Montacute Lodge in the new Masonic Home Building." (Grand Lodge Proceedings, Dec. 9, 1908, p. 206.) This offer was put into effect the next year by the appropriation of $100 for the purpose. The Overlook property was purchased in 1909 and in ac- cordance with the Grand Master's request to all Lodges, the Wor- shipful Master appointed a committee to solicit funds for the Ma- sonic Home. An average of more than five dollars per member was raised which placed Montacute Lodge on the Honor List. The Home was dedicated by the Grand Lodge on May 25, 1911, and soon thereafter the first resident was admitted, a Past Master of Montacute Lodge, Wor. George M. Taylor.
THE WORCESTER TEMPLE
In 1909 interest in the building of a Masonic Temple in Worcester was revived. In May of 1910 a plan of action was sub- mitted to Montacute Lodge, as it was to the other Masonic Bodies,
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
and it was voted that "it is the opinion of the Lodge that the efforts of the Worcester Masonic Charity and Educational Association and the enterprise as a whole as outlined be approved and a committee appointed to consider what action should be taken." The plan was for each body to contribute from its funds as liberally as possible and for individual subscriptions to be solicited. Montacute Lodge raised its degree fee $25, the additional amount being placed in a Masonic Temple Fund. This time the enterprise was carried to a successful conclusion. On Friday, September 12, 1913, the corner- stone was laid by the Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Herbert E. Fletcher and the officers of the Grand Lodge. Just previous to the ceremony Montacute Lodge participated with the other Worcester Lodges in a parade under escort of Worcester County Commandery from the old apartments on Pearl Street through Chestnut, Harvard, and Highland Streets to Lincoln Square and thence down Main Street to Ionic Avenue and the site of the Temple.
A year later on September 3, 1914, the new Temple was dedi- cated by M.W. Melvin M. Johnson, Grand Master, and officers of the Grand Lodge. Again Montacute Lodge participated in a parade in the forenoon, the ceremony of dedication was in the afternoon, and a banquet was held at the Bancroft Hotel in the evening.
The last meeting of Montacute Lodge at Pearl Street was on June 15, 1914 and its first meeting in the new Temple was the regu- lar communication of July 6th, even before the dedication and before the interior was entirely completed or furnishings installed. By agreement of the four Lodges the first work in the new Temple was on Tuesday evening, September 8th. Officers of Morning Star Lodge opened that Lodge on the Third Degree and worked the first section on three candidates. Wor. Albert R. Webb, Master of Montacute Lodge, assisted by his officers, then raised the first can- didate, followed by the raising of the other two candidates by Athelstan and Quinsigamond Lodges.
DEATH OF R.W. WILLIAM A. SMITH
R.W. William A. Smith, our first Master, then in his ninetieth year, was present at the ceremonies attending the laying of the cornerstone of the new Temple. The Lodge was saddened less than two weeks later by his death. At the time of his passing he was the
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
oldest graduate of Harvard College, the oldest member of the Worcester County Bar, and had been clerk and treasurer of the Worcester County Mechanics Association for forty-three years. In Masonry, besides being Master of Montacute Lodge, he had been appointed District Deputy Grand Master, but had to resign because of ill health. He had been Thrice Illustrious Master of Hiram Coun- cil, R. & S.M., and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council of Massachusetts. In the Scottish Rite he had attained the thirty-third degree and honorary membership in the Supreme Council. A Masonic funeral was held by Montacute Lodge at Grace Methodist Church, of which he was a member, on September 27, 1913.
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