USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The story of Essex County, Volume II > Part 35
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A new project of the grange is the organizing of juvenile granges for children from eight to fourteen years of age. Essex County has one juvenile grange-Laurel Juvenile Grange of West Newbury, organized May 26, 1934, with fifty-eight members.
Pomona, subordinate, and juvenile granges are all under the direct jurisdiction of the Massachusetts State Grange and, through that, of the National Grange, the supreme body of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
For more than twenty years Andover Grange led all the granges in the State in the total amount of her contributions to the Educa- tional Aid Fund, which is administered by the Massachusetts State Grange. Last year Bradford and Rowley granges won two of the prizes offered by the State Grange for outstanding achievements in community service.
ADOPTED CITIZENS HAVE THEIR OWN-Various nationalities in Essex County have their own organizations. Although the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows many years ago came out of the Manches- ter Unity of Odd Fellows, the Manchester Unity still has lodges of that affiliation for Englishmen and others. The German Order of Harugari has branches in the county.
There has existed in Andover for many years a comparatively large number of families of British origin as a result of the bringing over of textile workers from Scotland and the north of England by the original founders of the textile firm of Smith & Dove to Andover in 1836, when this firm was founded. The majority of the younger men from these families volunteered for service with the British Army on the outbreak of war in 1914. Many of these returned to Andover to reside after the war. As is usual in most towns and cities in Massachusetts since the war, exercises and parades have been car-
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ried out in Andover under the auspices of the American veterans' organizations on Memorial Day and other patriotic occasions. These organizations invariably invited all veterans of the Allied Forces to join with them on these occasions. In 1933, however, there was a strong feeling on the part of the men of British origin who had served in the war that there were enough British ex-service men to form a separate unit to march as a body. A meeting was called on April 9, 1933, to discuss the matter. This resulted in the organiza- tion of the British Empire War Veterans of Andover. At this first meeting the following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year : Lieutenant-Colonel V. M. FitzHugh, honorary commander ; David Waldie, commander; Norman MacLeish, vice-commander; Alexander Auchterlonie, adjutant; Lindsay Kinnear, finance officer.
The membership at this time numbered a total of thirty-six. A uniform committee was soon formed and money was raised through various activities such as whist parties, dances, etc., with the result that the entire membership were equipped with uniforms. A ladies' auxiliary was organized on June 26, 1933, with Mrs. David McIntosh as commander.
The organization has paraded on the following occasions since its inception :
May 26, 1933-Decoration of grave of unknown British soldier at Concord with exercises at Lexington and Bedford.
August 12, 1933-Reception to the crew of the "H. M. S. Danae" by the British Naval and Military Veterans' Association of Massa- chusetts in Boston.
September 9, 1933-Reunion of 10Ist Y. D. Division at Fram- ingham.
October 10, 1933 -- Rev. Charles C. W. Henry, rector of Christ Church, Andover, was elected honorary chaplain.
1934-Norman MacLeish was elected commander; John Green- how, vice-commander.
April 19, 1934-A banquet was given in Town Hall, Andover. Commanders of all American Veterans' Associations in Andover were invited.
May 30, 1934-Memorial Day exercises in Andover.
September 13, 1934-His Britannic Majesty's Consul General in Boston, Hugh A. Ford, and the Vice-Consul, Frank E. Evans, were elected to honorary membership.
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September 29, 1934-The organization attended reception to the crew of "H. M. S. Dragon" in Boston.
October 25, 1934-The British Empire War Veterans' Associa- tion of Andover joined the New England Council of British War Veterans, organized to establish cooperation between all British war veterans' organizations in New England.
November 4, 1934-Parade of Italian War veterans in Lawrence.
November 9, 1934-Military ball in Town Hall, Andover.
November II, 1934-Armistice Day services in Lawrence and Andover.
December 3, 1934-A meeting of the New England Council of British War Veterans was held in Andover and Lieutenant Leo Cart- wright, commander of the British Naval and Military Veterans' Association of Massachusetts, was elected commander, and Alexander Auchterlonie, of the British Empire War Veterans' Association of Andover, was elected vice-commander.
December 26, 1934-A Christmas party was held.
December 31, 1934-A New Year's Eve dance was held.
1935-John Greenhow was elected commander; Alexander Beedie, vice-commander; John Vause, adjutant; Lindsay Kinnear, finance officer.
January 10, 1935-A joint installation of officers for the ensuing year was held for the British Empire War Veterans and the Ladies' Auxiliary. Lieutenant-Colonel V. M. FitzHugh, honorary com- mander, was installing officer for the British Veterans and Mrs. Ham- ilton for the Ladies' Auxiliary. This was attended by the represen- tatives of the Franco-American Legion and Italian Veterans of Lawrence and commanders of the local posts of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Present membership: British Empire War Veterans, seventy- three; Ladies' Auxiliary, seventy-five.
KNIGHTS, RED MEN, ELKS, MANY OTHERS-In all the larger towns and cities of the county are councils of the Knights of Colum- bus, that organization which has given such a good account of itself since it was instituted at New Haven, Connecticut, under the laws of that State, March 29, 1882, by Rev. Michael J. McGivney. Head- quarters of the Supreme Council of the order are still at New Haven.
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The excellence of the order was recognized by men of Catholic faith in Essex County soon after the order was established in Massa- chusetts. The first council was instituted in the neighboring town of Charlestown in 1892. The councils have been noted for benevolence and profited by social and intellectual intercourse. They abundantly justified their existence during the World War.
Several of the councils have the benefit of Daughters of Isabella connected with them, strengthening the social and fraternal ties and providing for adequate distribution of benevolences.
Dispensing charity is the distinctive characteristic of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and lodges of that order have lived up to that distinction in this community. They have not been unmind- ful of social enjoyment, have observed Elks' Memorial Day and their Lodge of Sorrow and the numberless other duties and customs so well taken care of by the Elks and so little known about by the uninitiated.
Much could be written of the work of relieving distress, espe- cially among widows and orphans, by the Elks lodges in Lynn, Law- rence, Haverhill, Gloucester, Newburyport, Salem and other towns in the county, but the Elks' plan of carrying on its charity is to do it generously without ostentation.
In Lawrence there are two lodges of Elks, one exclusively for colored people. The lodges have auxiliaries which assist materially in both the social and benevolent sides of the fraternal life. Some of the towns in the county are not large enough to have an Elks lodge and Elks Home of their own, but there are Elks resident in nearly every town, and the distribution of their bounty is universal.
The Improved Order of Red Men have tribes in the larger towns, and the history of the beginnings of that order go back to earliest days in the county. Well it might, as the Red Men have the oldest charitable and benevolent secret society of American origin. The ceremonials, nomenclature, and legends of the order are aboriginal. The subordinate organizations are called tribes. Their supreme gov- erning body is a Great Council.
The members acknowledge "Belief in the existence of a Great Spirit in whom all power exists." They kindle a council fire in a wig- wam, reckon time from a certain moon of the Great Sun (year) of discovery of America. Their early existence was tinged with political
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
prejudice, eliminated in 1834, since which the Order of Red Men, virtually a continuation of the Sons of Liberty, has been known as the Improved Order of Red Men, and has taken on more pronounced benevolent features.
Tribes hold their council fires and work their degrees of adoption, hunters, warriors, and chiefs, in Salem, Danvers, Lynn, Haverhill, Marblehead, Amesbury, and elsewhere. There are five tribes of Red Men and four councils of the Degree of Pocahontas in Lynn, two tribes in Haverhill and other councils of the Degree of Pocahontas, which is the women's branch of the order.
People from this county and vicinity have had a hand in launching some of the fraternal societies which have spread far and wide. Such was the American Benefit Society, which was incorporated in Boston in 1895, having headquarters in that city. The Home Circle, for women and members of the Royal Arcanum, was organized in Boston October 2, 1879, under the laws of Massachusetts. The founders were largely members of the Masons, Knights of Honor, Royal Arcanum, Odd Fellows, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The Order of United Friends had among its founders A. A. Lam- prey, of Lawrence, and William H. Lee, of Boston. It was a secret fraternal beneficiary organization with the motto "Unity, friendship and security." The Royal Aid Society was organized in Lynn in 1896, to pay death claims of $1,000 and $2,000 and have social and fraternal features. The Royal Arcanum was organized by men and women in Suffolk and Essex counties and vicinity in 1877. Head- quarters were in Boston. Their widows' and orphans' benefit fund was for those to whom rates of the old line life insurance companies seemed prohibitive. "Mercy, virtue and character" was the motto and the order had an impressive ceremonial from the start. The order was forced to change its assessment plan in 1898 to pay its obligations, its rates having been low and collected as a post mortem assessment the first twenty-one years.
The United Order of Pilgrim Fathers was organized in the fall of 1878 by residents of Lawrence. The list of founders shows the names of J. C. Bowker, James E. Shepard, A. J. French, Charles R. Peters, M. B. Kenney, Fred R. Warren, Charles Lloyd, H. A. Wads- worth, W. L. Seaver, A. B. Bugbee, A. W. Allen, Henry W. Rogers, Miss Mary P. Currier and Charles McCarthy. They were members
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of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Order of the Golden Cross, Knights of Honor, Royal Arcanum, American Legion . of Honor, Masonic fraternity and Odd Fellows. By February 15, 1879, when the first colony was organized in Lawrence, they had written an impressive ritual with the Pilgrim story intertwined.
The first colony was named Mayflower and had one hundred and one members, supposedly the number of passengers on the "May- flower" when it arrived at Provincetown, although there was a change in the vital statistics before the landing at Plymouth. The plan was to furnish assistance in life and insurance at death. The emblem showed the Mayflower and the dates 1620-1879. The founders were granted a charter under the laws of Massachusetts in March, 1879, and a Supreme Colony was organized immediately. Colonies were organized all over New England, the order having a healthy and popular growth.
Some of the fraternal organizations are wholly or largely for the benefit of designated nationalities or near descendants. Such is the Order of Scottish Clans, the largest of the orders for Scotchmen and their descendants in America. This order was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, November 30, 1878. It has sick and death benefits, its members wear Scottish costumes when on parade, and the fraternal ties are especially strong.
Without attempting to give a history of all the clans in the county, Clan Johnston, of Andover, organized April 3, 1908, may be selected as typical. The story of the institution of Clan Johnston was well told in the Andover "Townsman" on April 10, 1908. One paragraph read: "The arrival of Royal Secretary Peter Kerr at the depot was the signal for the piper to 'blaw' and he tuned up to the 'Queen's taste' and escorted the distinguished visitor to the scene of inauguration, accompanied by a delegation of clansmen. Royal Sec- retary Kerr instituted the new clan, while Chief Noble and officers of Clan McPherson of Lawrence, performed the work of initiation."
Clan McPherson of Lawrence was organized at an earlier date. These two and Clan Maclean of Lynn, Clan Douglass of Haverhill, and others in the county have taken up the fiery cross and continued to carry its message worthily.
During anti-Masonic times there was considerable activity on the part of other secret societies. The Odd Fellows obtained a decided
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
start. The Ancient Order of Druids and the Ancient Order of Hibernians were introduced into the United States. The Improved Order of Red Men improved the opportunity to reorganize and reestablish. Greek letter fraternities increased in number, influence, and membership. All of them had members in Essex County in their early days, and a large number of memberships in those early in the fraternal organization field have their local membership lists well filled. There were perhaps 3,000 members of the Masonic fraternity in the United States at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
The Loyal Orange Institutions, founded in 1795 in Ireland, had an organization hereabouts soon after the Orange lodges appeared in the United States in 1870. Among the early American patriotic societies was the senior and junior orders of United American Mechanics. The Know-Nothing party capitalized on the feelings engendered and helped keep them alive. Greek letter fraternities multiplied, and influenced college life, the professions, etc.
When the "Friendly" and "Benevolent" societies had their vogue, paying sick, disability, funeral and burial benefits, they had local branches. Those which have survived the tests of such organizations are still well represented. Mutual assessment organizations which have been, and in some cases still are, in Essex County, include the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Honor, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Legion of the Red Cross, Order of the Golden Cross, Knights and Ladies of Honor, Royal Arcanum, American Order of the Golden Cross, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, Royal Circle Society of Good Fellows, Knights of the Maccabees, New England Order of Protection, American Benefit Society, Order of United Commercial Travellers, and others.
In giving any list of fraternal organizations, even in such a small territory as Essex County, it is almost impossible to make the list complete or to do justice to organizers, early and late, who have done pioneer and development work which has added, temporarily, at least, to the growth of good will and to the dispensing of aid and comfort.
The B'nai B'rith, a Hebrew friendly society for relief, formed in New York in 1843, has a branch here. So has the Order of B'rith Abraham and others which have for many years done good coopera- tive, fraternal work among the Hebrew residents.
There are lodges of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows among the colored population. That order has had an interesting
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history since its introduction into the United States from England, and was not intended to be limited to the colored population.
This county has done its share in promoting the temperance cause in those periods when temperance organizations flourished. Some such organizations still exist and carry on, the lodges of the Independ- ent Order of Good Templars, for instance. A directory of local temperance societies includes The Sons of Temperance, Independent Order of Rechabites, and several total abstinence societies.
Another class of societies has had local organizations such as the Knights of the Golden Circle, the Ku Klux Klan, Clan-na-Gael, United Brotherhood, and American Protective Association. Among the social and recreative orders are the Loyal Order of Moose and the Owls. Some years ago the Independent Order of Gophers is said to have had local members.
The Ancient and Illustrious Order, Knights of Malta, has lodges in the county. The Ancient Essenic Order, Ancient Order of Osiris, labor organizations, short term assessment societies, such as the Iron Hall and Order of Home Builders a generation ago, the Order of the Solid Rock, etc., are here or have been.
Outside of the fraternal circles people little realize the good that is done by fraternal organizations when homes are darkened by pov- erty and sorrow. In this northeast corner of the Old Bay State, so rich in historical recollections and records, the fraternal organizations have their own historical recollections and records, not intended for mention to the uninitiated, but a heritage of comfort and satisfaction in deeds well done. Societies differ in ritualistic beauty. Some exist for people of one nationality or their direct descendants and are tinged with customs and teachings of the lands of their birth as well as the land of their adoption. In the social and recreational features, subordinate bodies find an enjoyable way of doing good. The play boy instinct is present, but it glorifies rather than detracts from the serious purposes of organizations which have justified their existence. With differences which make them unique, they are all progressing under the sentiments enunciated in the two great commandments.
In Essex County there is a mission and grateful recognition for all that have been mentioned in this chapter, either in few or many words. The list is not complete without appreciative mention of chapters of The Ahepa, Companions of the Forest, Dames of Malta,
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THE STORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
Daughters of America, Daughters of St. George, Daughters of Scotia, Daughters of Veterans, Degree of Honor, First Universal Humanitarian Society, Foresters of America, Franco-American For- esters, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Fraternal Order of Orioles, French Artisans Sussersale de Lynn, Friends of Maine, Hadassah Society, Hebrew Ladies' Aid, Hebrew Young Men's Aid Association, Inde- pendent Companions of America, Oriental Order of Humility and Perfection of the United States and Canada, Independent Order of Vikings, Irish National Foresters, Company of Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish Orphans' Relief Society, Caledonian Club, Hebrew Benevo- lent societies, Order of the Court of Calanthe, Order of Vasa, Polish National Alliance, Sachem Society, St. Jean Baptiste, Scandinavian Sisters' Benefit societies, Scandinavian Fraternity of America, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Sons of Italy, Sons of Norway, Sons of St. George, Sons of Temperance, Independent Order of Good Templars, United Order of Independent Odd Ladies, United Order of Golden Cross, Young Women's Hebrew associations, American Lithuanian Alliance, Bavarian organizations, St. Joan of Arc, Cercle Montcalm, Cercle Paroissial St. Ann, chapters of Disabled American Veterans of the World War, Italian Benefit societies, Syrian societies, Women of Mooseheart Legion chapters, Sons and Daughters of Liberty, Junior Order of Moose, Ladies' Acoriana Relief Association, Legion of the Moose, Portuguese societies, Artisans Canadiens Français, Order of United American Men, and seamen's charitable societies.
AMERICAN LEGION AND AUXILIARY-Particular attention is given to the American Legion Auxiliary, as it has a comparatively large membership in all parts of the county and concerns veterans' assistance in a war remembered by presumably all adult readers of this chapter. American Legion Posts are in all the cities in the county, faithfully carrying out those principles enunciated in the constitution of the organization which began in Paris, France, in 1919, and was incorporated September 16 of that year :
"To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, to maintain law and order, to foster and perpetuate one hundred per cent. Americanism, to preserve our memories and incidents in the Great War, to inculcate a sense of indi- vidual obligations to the community, State and Nation ; to safe-
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guard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our com- radeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."
Under the direction of the State Department of the American Legion a group of the American Legion Auxiliary members from Essex County assembled at the Grand Army Hall, in Beverly, on Sunday afternoon, November 20, 1920, to consider organizing a State Department of the American Legion Auxiliary, then known as the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion. At a meeting called for that purpose, at the Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston, in December, 1920, Mrs. Mae E. Mackenzie, of Cliftondale, was elected a member of the State Executive Board from Essex County, automatically becoming the first Essex County president.
On January 29, 1921, the first regular meeting of the Essex County Council of the American Legion Auxiliary was called to order at the American Legion Hall, Lynn, the hostess being Lynn Unit 6, at which meeting the following officers were elected: Vice-president, Mrs. Mary Marshman, of Lawrence; secretary, Miss Anna Car- berry, of Peabody; treasurer, Mrs. Grace P. Horton, of Gloucester. Sixty members, representing thirteen units, were present at this meet- ing and adopted a constitution for Essex County American Legion Auxiliaries.
The number of units have grown until today there are thirty- three, as follows: Amesbury, Andover, Beverly,* Beverly Farms, Danvers, East Lynn, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester,* Groveland, Hamilton,* Haverhill, Ipswich,* Lawrence, * Lynn,* Lynnfield, Man- chester, Marblehead,* Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton,* Nahant, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody,* Rockport,* Salem, Salis- bury, Saugus,* Swampscott,* Topsfield, Wenham,* West Newbury.
On the third Saturday of each month since its inception, delegates and members from each of the above units unite to carry on the busi- ness of the County Auxiliary work, with one of the above units as hostess. Our primary object is the veteran in the home, also veterans hospitalized at the Danvers State Hospital and Essex Sanitorium, as well as veterans in other hospitals outside of Essex County. In addi- tion to this work, we carry on a very extensive child welfare program
*Original thirteen units.
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for the children of veterans and the World War orphans. Every Sunday afternoon regular visits are made to the Danvers State Hos- pital by one of the Auxiliary units, taking entertainment, goodies, and smokes to the veterans confined there. The veterans at the Essex Sanitorium are visited each week by an Auxiliary worker and her committee, taking them goodies, useful articles, and a small gift of money. Frequently the American Legion Auxiliary conducts a sale of articles made by the disabled veterans, through the Ex-Service Men's Exchange in Boston (or "the store with the blue door"), which means "Hope" for the disabled. This is the only store of its kind in the United States, having been founded by our first department presi- dent, Mrs. Bessie Rochester Edwards.
As the years have passed the work of the American Legion Auxili- ary has broadened and now includes the following programs: Ameri- canism, National Defense, Fidac, Education of World War Orphans, Community Service, and Legislation. To assure the future genera- tion that this auxiliary work will be carried on, we are training the veteran's children as junior members, who will fill the places of the older members, as they advance in years.
Essex County Council-President, Mrs. Grace B. Wingate, East Lynn ;. secretary, Mrs. Norma C. McKillop, Lynnfield.
Unit No. 3, Gloucester-President, Leona Landry, Glouces- ter; secretary, Alaida Hall, Gloucester.
Unit No. 4, Haverhill-President, Mrs. Pauline Mathews, Ha- verhill; secretary, Mrs. Elsie Booth, Haverhill.
Unit No. 6, Lynn-President, Mrs. Irene Cass, West Lynn; secretary, Miss Florence Thompson, Lynn.
Unit No. 8, Andover-President, Miss Ethel Hilton, Andover; secretary, Mrs. Glennie Wetterberg, Andover.
Unit No. 12, Beverly-President, Mrs. Pearl Andrews, Bev- erly; secretary, Mrs. Anna Merrow, Beverly.
Unit No. 15, Lawrence-President, Miss Bernice Beals, Law- rence; secretary, Gertrude Reilly, Lawrence.
Unit No. 23, Salem-President, Catherine Tredway, Salem; secretary, Elizabeth McCarthy, Peabody.
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