USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The history of Montacute Lodge A.F. & A.M. > Part 3
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LADIES' NIGHTS
The brethren were proud of their new Temple and wanted their womenfolk to enjoy it with them. And so, why not a Ladies' Night? Plans were perfected and one was held following the regular communication on the fifth of April, 1915. This was Montacute's first Ladies' Night other than those held in connection with public installations. They are now almost a yearly occurrence.
DISPLAY OF THE NATIONAL FLAG
At the regular communication in May, 1916 it was voted that the representatives of Montacute Lodge to the Worcester Masonic Charity and Educational Association be instructed that it was the sense of Montacute Lodge that the national flag be displayed on the outside of the Temple; also that the Master take up the matter of having it displayed in the Lodge room. Both of these suggestions were carried out.
DEGREE TEAMS
The first record we have of an outside degree team working a degree is in that of the special communication of May 28, 1917, when the Trowel Club of New England raised a candidate. Since that time such events have been of somewhat frequent occurrence. Teams made up of brethren connected with various firms, indus-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
tries, or professions, or associated with certain social, fraternal, or church groups have worked. One of the most colorful of these has been the Scottish Hiram Associates, appearing in kilt and sporran and accompanied by the bagpipe and drum.
WORLD WAR I
1917, and our country was engaged in the First World War. 36 Montacute members are listed as entering the armed forces. War conditions disrupted the ordinary procedure of our meetings. In January, 1918 a dispensation was received from the Grand Master to hold our regular meetings up to and including March 28, 1918, upon the most convenient night subsequent to the dates of the regu- lar meetings because of the government ban on meetings on Mon- day evenings to conserve coal. Also our attention was called to a Fuel Commission order in regard to the use of light after 10 P.M.
July 10 1918, the Master, Wor. Burt W. Greenwood, and some of the officers paid a visit to Caleb Butler Lodge at Ayer. That Lodge was overwhelmed with candidates from Camp Devens and welcomed the assistance of neighboring Lodges. We raised nine candidates that evening.
During the war the Grand Lodge established a War Relief Fund for the assistance of brethren in the service and their dependents. Members of Montacute Lodge contributed $1,015.00 to this fund.
On the evening of November 11, 1918, the day the armistice was signed and the war ended, Montacute Lodge happened to be hav- ing the annual visitation of the District Deputy Grand Master.
ISAIAH THOMAS LODGE INSTITUTED
In January, 1921 another Lodge was instituted in Worces- ter, Isaiah Thomas. Nine members of Montacute Lodge were among the twenty-seven charter members. Unlike previous instances, they were not required to demit as plural membership was now per- mitted. R.W. Matthew J. Whittall and Brother Edward M. Wood- ward were the first Wardens and Brothers William W. Brown and Arthur B. Chapin the first Deacons. All were members of Montacute Lodge and all became Masters of Isaiah Thomas.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
DEATH OF BRO. HENRY H. FLINT, TYLER
In 1920 occurred the death of our Tyler, Bro. Henry H. Flint. Brother Flint was a member of Morning Star Lodge, but had been Tyler of all the Worcester Lodges for nearly fifty years. A Commandery funeral was held in the Egyptian Chamber of the Temple. As a token of respect to Bro. Flint the Master of Morning Star Lodge opened his Lodge with the Masters of Montacute and Athelstan Lodges in the West and South respectively, while the Masters of Quinsigamond and Isaiah Thomas acted as Marshal and Junior Deacon. The Masters then attended the service in a body.
"SANDY" FOULDS
October 31, 1921 Wor. Alexander Foulds, affectionately known as "Sandy," was escorted into the Lodge and celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as a member by working the Master Mason de- gree. Wor. Brother Foulds had been Master in 1890-91. The District Deputy Grand Master presented to him a Henry Price Medal, which was then awarded for fifty years' membership.
CANCELLATION OF TEMPLE DEBT
About this time it was felt that the time had come to cancel the remaining debt on the Temple property. The object was at- tained through contributions from the various bodies and some individual gifts. Montacute Lodge contributed $5000 from its Permanent Fund.
VISITS BY GRAND MASTERS PRINCE AND FERRILL
April 25, 1921 the Lodge was pleased to receive a visit from M.W. Arthur D. Prince, Grand Master, who told of his recent visit to the Lodges in the Canal Zone.
We were again honored on October 19, 1925 with a visit by the Grand Master, this time M.W. Dudley H. Ferrill. He presented Henry Price Medals to Wor. Herbert J. Fisher and Bro. James Logan.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
Gov. Cox GUEST OF THE LODGE
A special communication was called on April 28, 1924, for the purpose of receiving as guest of the Lodge Bro. Channing H. Cox, Governor of Massachusetts. He was escorted to the West of the Altar and introduced by Wor. Burt W. Greenwood. Bro. James Logan presented him to the brethren for his address. At its con- clusion R.W. Frederick W. Southwick, in behalf of the Lodge, pre- sented a Masonic apron to our guest, who, in turn, in behalf of the Grand Master, pinned on Brother Southwick's coat a Henry Price Medal (for fifty years' membership).
THE MASONIC VETERANS' MEDAL
In 1926 the Grand Lodge established the Masonic Veterans' Medal to be given for fifty years' membership in place of the Henry Price Medal, which thereafter was only to be awarded by the Grand Master or Grand Lodge to distinguished brethren deemed worthy of special Masonic recognition.
On May 27, 1927 M.W. Frank L. Simpson, Grand Master, paid a visit to Montacute Lodge for the purpose of presenting Veterans' Medals to fifteen members of the Lodge eligible to receive them. Twelve were present and medals were later given to three others at their homes. Up to August 31, 1958, sixty-six of our older brethren have been thus honored.
THIRD DEGREE AT MASONIC HOME
A special communication of the Lodge was held on June 1, 1927 at the Masonic Home when the Third Degree was worked on four candidates. The charge was given by Wor. Albion R. Libby, a Past Master of Soley Lodge of Somerville, and a resident of the Home.
FOURTH ESTATE LODGE AT INSTALLATION OF
BRO. H. LYMAN RAWSON
When Bro. H. Lyman Rawson was elected Master in 1927, he invited Wor. Charles C. Balcom, a Past Master of Fourth Estate Lodge of Boston, to install him. The installing officer was accom-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
panied by a large delegation from that Lodge. Brother Rawson was a pressman at the Worcester Telegram and Gazette and the Fourth Estate Lodge is made up of newspapermen.
PLANTING OF THE MONTACUTE MAPLE AT MASONIC HOME
The Lodge again journeyed to the Masonic Home on Satur- day, May 19, 1928. At five o'clock a rock maple, donated by our member, Bro. Charles H. Fish, was planted, then followed a box lunch. In the evening the Master Mason degree was again worked, with many residents of the Home in attendance.
THE SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
On Thursday evening, June 21, 1928, the seventieth anniver- sary of the institution of Montacute Lodge was observed. The Senior Past Master, Wor. Herbert J. Fisher, was invited to occupy the East, Wor. Alexander Foulds the West and Wor. Albert R. Webb the South. All were seventy years or more in age. Special seventieth anniversary medals were presented to all who were seventy years old or older, and so living when the Lodge was in- stituted. There were fifty-three of these (7% of the membership), of whom twenty-three were present. Among those in attendance were two who had taken part twenty years before in the fiftieth anniversary celebration. They were Rev. Bro. Vincent E. Tomlinson, who was the preacher at the church service, and Bro. Frank Roe Batchelder of Athelstan Lodge, who wrote an original poem for our fiftieth anniversary and another for this occasion. In the record of this communication is the following letter addressed to the Worship- ful Master and members at the one hundredth anniversary:
Worcester, Mass., June 21, 1928.
To the Worshipful Master (June 1958)
My dear Worshipful Master:
As Worshipful Master, and in behalf of the Officers and Members of Montacute Lodge here assembled at its Seventieth Anniversary Exercises, June 21, 1928, we extend to the Master,
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
Officers and Members of Montacute Lodge at its One Hundredth Anniversary in 1958, our sincere greetings and fraternal felicitations.
May its life, service and prestige remain on that high plane amongst Masonic Lodges as has been its fortune since its institution.
Fraternally yours, H. Lyman Rawson Master
THE AUSTIN CANE
In November, 1931 the Lodge received a cane which had been given to Wor. H. Lyman Rawson by our late Brother, Waldo E. Austin, who had suggested that it be the property of the Lodge, but lent to the oldest member in point of membership for the remainder of his life. The cane was made from a piece of wood which had been sent to Brother Austin from Mount Shasta, Cali- fornia, some forty years previously by his brother-in-law. Wor. Bro. Rawson caused a head, properly lettered, to be placed on it. The next October he had the pleasure of presenting the Austin cane to our senior member at the time, Bro. E. Frank Bliven, a Mason of fifty-nine years' standing. In his response Brother Bliven said: "Al- though I have reached years beyond the average life of man, I stand before you without any need whatever of this cane. So if you will direct me what to do with it, I will be glad to carry out your wishes." Brother Bliven, however, took the cane but soon after re- turned it to the Lodge. The cane has not again been placed in the hands of any of our senior members.
THE MASONIC HOSPITAL, JUNIPER HALL
In 1927 the widow of our member, R.W. Matthew J. Whittall, gave to the Grand Lodge the beautiful estate in Shrewsbury known as Juniper Hall, which had been their residence, to be used as a Masonic Hospital. The Grand Lodge called for contributions from the membership for the purpose of helping pay the expense of an addition to the property and to establish a fund, the income of which would be used for its maintenance. In January, 1932 Monta- cute Lodge received from the Grand Lodge a "Certificate of Honor"
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
showing that we had given an average of over two dollars per member, based on the membership on the previous August 31st. (The actual amount contributed was six dollars per member, or $4,579.00).
THE "BANK HOLIDAY"
In 1933 came the so-called "Bank Holiday." Montacute Lodge's current funds were tied up in a closed bank, but fortunately $1,000.00 could be obtained from our Permanent Fund which took care of our needs for the time being. In due course of time the money in the closed bank was released and the Permanent Fund reimbursed for the amount taken out.
THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
1933 was another anniversary year, the seventy-fifth. On invitation of Rev. Bro. Thomas S. Roy, Senior Deacon, about sev- enty members and their families attended the First Baptist Church on Sunday, June 25th, as part of the anniversary observance. The subject of the sermon was "Noiseless Building." At a special com- munication on Monday evening an historical talk was given by one of our Past Masters, Wor. Fred M. Sampson.
VISITS BY GRAND MASTERS CHIPMAN AND PERRY
M.W. Curtis Chipman, Grand Master, made a visit to the Worcester 22nd Masonic District on Monday, May 7, 1934. Monta- cute Lodge was the host Lodge. The Grand Master described the ceremonies of dedication of the Masonic Peace Memorial by the Grand Lodge of England, which he had attended.
In 1939 Montacute Lodge again acted as host Lodge when the Grand Master paid a visit to the Lodges of the 21st and 22nd Dis- tricts. The visitor this time was M.W. Joseph Earl Perry.
DEATH OF WOR. ARTHUR L. STONE, SECRETARY
In September the brethren were shocked by the sudden death of our Secretary, Wor. Arthur L. Stone, who had served faith-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
fully in that office for sixteen years. A Masonic funeral service was held in the Egyptian Chamber on the 23rd. He was succeeded by R.W. Edward M. Woodward, Jr., who was transferred from the Treasurer's station and served for the next twenty-three years, until September, 1957.
BAALIS SANFORD
September 21, 1936 R.W. Ralph Lowe, Jr., at the time Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts, assisted by the officers of Baalis Sanford Lodge of Brockton, raised one of our candidates named Baalis Sanford. M.W. Baalis Sanford, Grand Master in 1903-05 and also at one time Grand High Priest, was an uncle of our candidate's father. Eight years later (1944) when our Baalis Sanford was installed as Master of Montacute Lodge, Baalis Sanford Lodge was again represented at the cere- mony.
PRESENTATION OF 33° JEWEL TO R.W. E. M. WOODWARD, JR.
In the fall of 1941 ( October 13) occurred an event which is rather unusual in a Symbolic Lodge, the presentation of a 33rd degree Scottish Rite jewel. One of Montacute's Past Masters and an officer of the Lodge (R.W. Edward M. Woodward, Jr., Secre- tary ) had received the honor the preceding month. The Worshipful Master, Averill E. Cook, who conceived the idea of Montacute Lodge participating, was not then a Scottish Rite Mason. He has since become one and is past presiding officer of one of the Worces- ter bodies of the Rite. The speakers were M.W. Arthur D. Prince, who was present in the dual capacity of a Past Grand Master and Deputy for Massachusetts of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite; the Commander-in-Chief of Massachusetts Consistory, 32º, Bro. Norman K. Wiggin, who was also at the time Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts; Past Commander-in-Chief Theodore R. Lockwood; Bro. William A. Bennett of Athelstan Lodge, Mayor of Worcester; Wor. Thomas S. Roy, Orator of Lawrence Chapter of Rose Croix and the District Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Eric A. Jacobson. The Worcester Scot- tish Rite Bodies entertained the guests at dinner previous to the meeting. Wor. Bro. Cook made the presentation.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
WORLD WAR II
On Sunday, December 7, 1941 came the attack on Pearl Harbor. At a communication of the Lodge the following evening, the Master, Wor. Earl C. Richards, commenting on the outbreak of war, said: "In this fateful hour we take pride in the fact that we are Americans. Masonry has in all our wars given of its best in the de- fense of our country. This war will furnish no exception to that established precedent. Several members of this Lodge are already in the armed forces of the United States. More will undoubtedly follow."
Before the war was over 77 are known to have entered. Included were our Junior Warden, Bro. Robert I. Johnston and one of our Past Masters, Wor. Cyril C. Lawton. Both chose to remain in the army when peace was again established. Lt. Col. Lawton died later while on duty in Japan and Maj. Johnston in this country. Before the war was over the Tyler, Bro. Conrad F. Edstrom and Bro. Robert S. Morrow, who was Marshal at the time, were called to the colors.
The Grand Lodge immediately set up a Military Service Fund. Members of Montacute contributed its quota. Later when a more extensive campaign was inaugurated for the purpose of raising funds to establish a Masonic Service Center at Ayer near Fort Devens, the Lodge loyally cooperated, in recognition of which it received a "Certificate of Patriotic Masonic Merit." Montacute's goal was $2,400 and $2,787.50 was contributed.
In the record of the May, 1945 regular communication we find the following: "On this day, May 7, 1945, unofficial news (con- firmed officially on the following day) was received of the uncon- ditional surrender of Germany to the allied armies. The Chaplain, Wor. Victor H. Jennings, in his opening prayer rendered thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe for our being privileged to witness this partial return to peace. . It is a coincidence that Montacute Lodge should have been in session on the day when World War I ended and when the European portion of World War II was concluded. Shortly after the end of the Japanese phase of the war, the Master, Wor. Baalis Sanford, commenting in Lodge on the end of hostilities, said "Montacute Lodge was particularly fortunate in that none of its members in the service had died and that none, so far as known, were severely injured."
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
R.W. THOMAS S. ROY, DEPUTY GRAND MASTER
In December, 1942 our Past Master, R.W. Thomas S. Roy, was appointed Deputy Grand Master on completion of service for a year as District Deputy Grand Master for the 22nd District. On the eighth day of the following March (1943) Montacute Lodge tendered a reception to him in the Egyptian Chamber. The occa- sion was graced by the presence of M.W. Albert A. Schaefer and other members of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Master bestowed upon Dr. Roy a Henry Price Medal. Wor. G. Willard King presented him with a Deputy Grand Master's jewel in behalf of Montacute Lodge.
THE EIGHTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY
During its first half century Montacute Lodge had made no observance of its founding until the fiftieth anniversary celebration. Now that the Lodge was getting older the members' thoughts turned back to the beginnings. Mention has already been made of the notice given to the Lodge's seventieth and seventy-fifth years. June 21, 1943 happened to fall upon Monday. It was the eighty-fifth anniversary of Montacute's institution. A communication had been called for that evening for working the Master Mason degree. In order that the occasion might not pass without some notice being taken, the petition for dispensation and the dispensation issued eighty-five years earlier were read by the Secretary from the original records. At this communication the Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Roy, raised Frederick J. Shaw, Jr., later to become Master.
INNOVATIONS BY WOR. THOMAS E. CHRISTENSEN
Shortly before his retirement as Master, Wor. Thomas E. Christensen, now our Secretary, conceived the pleasing idea of extending greetings at a meeting of the Lodge to all who had been raised during the preceding year. Each lecturer presented those he had instructed. All who had been raised since November 1, 1943, twenty-six in number, were present.
When his successor was installed, Wor. Bro. Christensen pre- sented to him a lapel button bearing the insignia of a Master, the square. This had been given to Bro. Christensen at his own installa- tion. Since then it has been passed on from Master to Master.
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
THE "CLASS OF 1920"
At the Past Masters' Night on May 14, 1945 R.W. Edward M. Woodward, Jr., the Secretary, celebrated his twenty-fifth anni- versary as Master of Montacute Lodge by raising a candidate in long form. He was presented a desk by R.W. Thomas S. Roy on behalf of the officers and Past Masters as a token of their esteem.
On June 25, 1945 R.W. Bro. Woodward was again on the receiving end, for the records say: "Just before the closing of the Lodge the Master stated that a surprise was in store for one of the members and requested those members who had been raised twenty-five years ago to assemble in the East. Seven of the members of this class formed in the East and one of their number, Bro. Walfred G. Burman, presented to R.W. Edward M. Woodward, Jr., during whose term as Master they had been raised, a gift of silver, em- blematical of twenty-five years and in token of their respect and esteem." The money was later used by the Secretary to purchase a specially made "Chronological Membership Record Book" which he dedicated to the "Class of 1920."
RECEPTION TO M.W. THOMAS S. ROY, GRAND MASTER
In December, 1950 the members of Montacute Lodge were thrilled by the election and installation of their Past Master, R.W. Thomas S. Roy, as Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts. The new Grand Master chose Wor. Allen W. Hixon, of Montacute Lodge, as his Grand Sword Bearer. M.W. Brother Roy was raised in King Solomon Lodge, No. 54, Digby, Nova Scotia, and had been a mem- ber of Dalhousie Lodge, Newtonville, Mass .; Tuscan Lodge No. 195, London, Ontario, Canada and Paul Revere Lodge, Brockton, Mass., before applying to Montacute for affiliation.
The Master of Montacute Lodge in 1951 was Wor. Frederick J. Shaw, Jr., who had been sponsored and raised by M.W. Bro. Roy when he was Deputy Grand Master. Now, through a happy coinci- dence, Wor. Bro. Shaw, as Master, had the privilege of receiving M.W. Bro. Roy as Grand Master in Montacute Lodge at a reception given in the latter's honor on January 29, 1951. After the wants of the physical man had been satisfied at a dinner in the Banquet Hall, the brethren, numbering over three hundred, proceeded to the Egyptian Chamber, where the exercises were held. The Grand Mas-
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
ter and his suite were escorted into the Lodge by a committee of Past Masters under the chairmanship of Wor. Leonard W. Howell. Most Worshipful Brother Roy, occupying the East, called upon the following speakers: The Mayor of Worcester, Bro. Andrew B. Holm- strom of Athelstan Lodge; the District Deputy Grand Master for the 22nd District, R.W. Leonard Rawn; the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Wardens, Right Worshipful Brothers Alton L. Miller, C. Weston Ringer and George E. Clapp; Past Grand Masters Claude L. Allen, Joseph Earl Perry, Samuel H. Wragg and Roger Keith; and in behalf of the First Baptist Church of which M.W. Bro.Roy was min- ister, Bro. Harry G. Stoddard of Athelstan Lodge. Then came the address of the Grand Master, dwelling particularly on his two pre- decessors who had Worcester connections Isaiah Thomas and Timo- thy Bigelow. After the flow of wit and wisdom from the distinguished guests the Master requested that R.W. G. Willard King, who had sponsored M.W. Bro. Roy when he applied to Montacute for affilia- tion and who had given him his first appointment as a line officer of Montacute, be conducted to the East. R.W. Bro. King presented a traveling bag to the Grand Master in behalf of the Past Masters. The Lodge was then closed in ample form. Quoting from the closing words of the record of the meeting: "Thus ended a unique incident in the history of Montacute Lodge, the like of which will not occur again for many, many years, if ever.'
THE TORNADO OF 1953
On June 9, 1953 a devastating tornado struck Worcester. The Master, Wor. Francis B. Page, announced in Lodge that he had personally visited seventy or more of our members in the tornado area. He stated that he found pride paramount among them and none would admit needing assistance from the Lodge. Later investi- gation indicated that assistance was needed by several. It was fur- nished from a fund established by Grand Lodge in part from its own funds and in part by contributions by some of the local collat- eral bodies and by individuals.
RECOGNITION OF SENIOR MEMBERS
Wor. Bro. Page, during his term as Master, inaugurated the custom of presenting 40-year and 25-year lapel buttons to those
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HISTORY OF MONTACUTE LODGE A.F. & A.M.
entitled. The first one, a 40-year button, was presented to M.W. Thomas S. Roy at a fraternal visit he made to the Lodge on May 25, 1953. At later communications buttons were given to all others entitled. The custom has been continued each year.
On September 28, 1953 the Lodge presented a Bible to Bro. Everett W. Woodhead in recognition of his having been a member for sixty years. He is now the senior in membership in Montacute Lodge.
UNITED GO-TO-CHURCH SUNDAYS
In 1955 the Masonic bodies of Worcester and vicinity co- operated in planning a "United Go-to-Church Sunday." The first one was held on Sunday forenoon, May 1st., and it has now become a yearly event. One Lodge is opened and the brethren clothed in their Masonic aprons and under escort of Worcester County Com- mandery march to the church chosen by the committee. The sermon is given by some prominent clergyman who is a member of the Fraternity. Montacute Lodge was the Lodge opened in 1957.
REGULAR AND ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS
From the institution of the Lodge until the removal to Pearl Street in 1867 Montacute Lodge met on Tuesday, with the regular communication on the second Tuesday of the month. From 1867 the regulars were on the first Monday and the annual in November, at which time officers were elected. In 1952 it was deemed best to change the regular communications to the second Monday and to shift the election to the June regular, but with the provision that the installation of officers should not occur before September. This gave the Master-elect ample time to make appointments and pre- pare for his installation. The annual communication for receiving yearly reports was to be in October. All this was accomplished by an amendment to the By-Laws and the first June election was held that year, 1952.
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