USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 32
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brother, Levi Lincoln, Jr., was Governor of Massachusetts cotem- poraneous with Enoch Lincoln in Maine.
STEPHEN EMERY.
Hon. Stephen Emery began practice in Paris not long after Gov. Lincoln came here. He taught the academy at Hallowell one year and a year at Portland ; studied law with Governors Parris and Lincoln and was admitted to the bar in June, 1819. He was born to Moses Emery, at Minot, April 29, 1790, fitted for college by his own efforts, aided by the fruits of a sympathising elder sister's labor, and graduated at Bowdoin in 1814. He studied law as he had opportunity while teaching. January 15, 1815, he married Sarah Stowell, daughter of Squire Daniel of this town, and sister of Levi Stowell, Esq. For a while after he settled here, he had his office in his house and taught a school over the Bemis store. . He was devotedly fond of music, and while pursuing his studies used to teach singing schools In this way he broke his health and was ever after a partial invalid. Soon after his admission to the bar he went to Columbia, Washington county, but in about a year returned to Paris, where he lived till he retired from practice. He was a learned and successful lawyer, an honorable, honest man and always a gen- tleman. He was Judge of Probate for Oxford county for several years ; was Attorney General of the State under Governor Fairfield, and chairman of the State Board of Education. By appointment of Governor Hubbard, he held the office of District Judge until the court was abolished by act of the Legislature. For second wife he married, in 1825, Miss Jeanette Loring of Buckfield. Judge Emery died in 1863. He was among the pioneer temperance men of the State.
JOSEPH G. COLE.
Hon. Joseph Greene Cole was born in Lincoln, Mass., March 16, 1801, and came to Paris in 1825. He commenced the study of law with Hon. Levi Lincoln of Worcester, and finished with Governor Enoch Lincoln of Paris. He wa's admitted to the bar in 1826, and immediately opened a law office in Paris, where he continued to prac- tice as long as he lived. He served respectively as Secretary of the State Senate, member of the Maine Legislature for two terms- 1830 and 1831, Register of Probate, Clerk of Courts and Judge of the District Court, to which office he was appointed in 1848. He was a man of distinguished ability, of great industry and of excel-
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lent character. He died November 12, 1851, while holding the position of Judge, and no death in Oxford county was ever more generally regretted. As a lawyer he was fair and candid, never seeking advantage by mis-statement of either law or fact; as a Judge he was impartial, and his private life was above reproach. He was editor of the Jeffersonian, and of the Oxford Democrat seven years. He married, February 12, 1834, Mehitable Marble, who survived him quite a number of years.
LEVI STOWELL.
Levi Stowell was a native of this town, son of Daniel Stowell, Esq., and was born January 14, 1794. He graduated at Bowdoin in 1815, was admitted to the bar in October, 1818, at Paris, prac- ticed a while at Lisbon and afterwards at Dixfield and finally came to Paris. where he pursued his profession nearly all the remainder of his life, a part of the time at the Hill and a part at South Paris. He was a very worthy man and a respectable lawyer. He was Reg- ister of Probate and County Treasurer. Being in poor health, with a tendency to pulmonary disease, he went to the banks of the Wa- bash in 1853, where his cough was relieved, but was replaced by fever and ague. From Vincennes he moved to Mazeppa, Minnesota, where he was Postmaster, Magistrate and School Officer. He died of a paralytic shock at Mazeppa, Sept. 8, 1865, after an illness of four days. While at Dixfield he united with the Orthodox church.
TIMOTHY J. CARTER.
Hon. Timothy Jarvis Carter was the son of Dr. Timothy and Frances (Freeland) Carter of Bethel, and was born in that town. He attended the town schools, took an academic course and studied law at Northampton, Mass. He was admitted to the bar in 1826, and located first at Rumford, but soon after came to Paris. He was married September 11, 1828, to Arabella, daughter of Samuel and Polla (Freeland) Rawson of Paris. He was often in town office in Paris, served as County Attorney and was elected to Congress in 1836. He died in Washington before the close of his term. High tributes of respect were paid to him, in the House by Hon. Geo. Evans, and in the Senate by Hon. John Rug- gles. reported in the Washington Globe of March 15, 1838. The issue of the Oxford Democrat published the week of his death, is dressed in mourning, and gives a lengthy account of the life and pub-
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lic services of the deceased. Mr. Carter, both as a lawyer and pol- itician, was able, popular and successful, and achieved a high posi- tion. Early in his public life he died, when the world was all bright before him.
RUFUS K. GOODENOW.
Hon. Rufus King Goodenow was born in Henniker, N. H., April, 1790, moved to Brownfield with his father's family when 12 years of age, and made several voyages in merchant ships before his majority. He served as Captain of the 33d U. S. Infantry through the war of 1812. He came to Paris in 1821, as first Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court here, which office he held 16 years. He spent the remainder of his life here, chiefly as farmer and lawyer, giving con- siderable attention to politics. He held various minor positions and served one term in Congress. He was a brother of the late Judge Goodenow of Alfred, and of the late Robert Goodenow, M. C., of Farmington. He died March, 1863. He did not enter the profes- sion till late in life (1845), and never gave much of his time to it. He was a worthy man, of great natural ability, honored and respec- ted. He married Jane, daughter of Captain Thomas Bean of Brownfield, who was born July 25, 1792, and died in Paris in October, 1864.
CHARLES ANDREWS.
Charles Andrews, a native of Paris, was the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Nevens) Andrews and was born Feb. 11, 1814 ; read law with IIon. H. Hamlin, was admitted and began practice in Turner, removed to Dixfield in 1842, and thence to Paris, January, 1846, to assume the duties of Clerk of Courts, to which he had been elected. He afterwards lived here, practicing law, after the expiration of his term of office. He died April 30, 1852, while a member of Con- gress from this District. Colonel Andrews was a brilliant and able lawyer, an eloquent and successful advocate, having great power with the jury. Much of his life was given to politics, which had great attraction for him and in which he was very successful, being possessed of that singular personal charm which drew multitudes of friends to him. He was taken away at the commencement of what promised to be a brilliant carcer. IIc married Persis, daughter of William Sibley, Esq., of Freedom, who after his death, became the wife of Alvah Black.
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GEORGE F. EMERY.
George F. Emery was the second son of Judge Stephen and Sarah (Stowell) Emery, and was born in Paris, Nov. 15, 1817. His father was a native of Minot, Me., and his mother a daughter of Daniel Stowell, Esq., of Paris. He graduated at Bowdoin College, class of 1836, and studied law with his father. He begun the practice of law in Waterford, his printed card appearing in the Oxford Demo- crat in 1838. He afterwards formed a co-partnership with his father and continued in practice, besides filling the position of Register of Probate until 1848, when he moved to Portland. He was clerk of the United States Circuit Court for many years until 1876, when he moved to Boston to take general supervision of the Boston Post. He has since returned to Portland. When Geo. L. Mellen became part owner of the Oxford Democrat, Mr. Emery became political editor, though then residing in Portland. He conducted the paper with marked success, and retired therefrom as soon as the object in which he was interested, was accomplished. He married Miss Eliza Appleton of Portland. He is much interested in the history of this, his native town, and delivered a fine poem Centennial day, which may be found in another part of this volume.
WM. K. KIMBALL.
Gen. Wm. K. Kimball was the son of Moses and Mary (Bean) Kimball, and was born in Rumford, June 7, 1820. He attended the academies at Bethel and at Bridgton, studied law at Cambridge, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice first at Dixfield. In 1844, he came to Paris and resided here until his death, which occurred in 1875. He was County Attorney four years, and Clerk of the Courts, ten.
He was United States Marshal for Maine, from 1857 to 1861. He was Lt. Colonel and Colonel of the 12th Maine Regiment and brev- etted Brigadier General for meritorious services. He married July 29, 1842, Frances Freeland, daughter of Samuel and Polla (Free- land) Rawson of Paris. Gen. Kimball was a good and talented lawyer, but gave most of his efforts to politics for which he was peculiarly fitted, being one of the most attractive, fascinating and popular of men. He was a patriot and soldier, and during the whole war of the Rebellion, served faithfully and well, ever ready to lay down his life for the good of his country. At the close of the war, he retired from the service with a record of which any man
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might be proud, and which conferred honor upon the town and upon all connected with him.
ALVAH BLACK.
Alvah Black was born in Limington, York County, Maine, Dec. 3, 1817 ; was educated at Yarmouth Academy, and graduated at Bowdoin, class of 1845. He read law in the office of Augustine Haines, Esq., at Portland, and was admitted to Cumberland Bar in 1848. He commenced practice at Gorham, where he remained about a year, from whence he removed to South Paris and practiced about two years, after which he removed to Paris Hill, where he afterwards resided and formed a copartnership with Hon. Charles Andrews. He was Clerk of Courts from January 1856 to 1859, and represented the town of Paris in the Legislature in 1860. Mr. Black was President of the Bar Association, and a leading member of the Bar. He was a well-read lawyer and a strong advocate, and his practice, which was quite extensive, came from litigated cases all over the county. He stood high for integrity and honor, and for faithfulness to the interests of his clients. He was married in 1855, to Persis S., daughter of Wm. Sibley, Esq., of Freedom, and widow of his former partner, Hon. Charles Andrews. Mr. Black died very suddenly, January 24, 1882. A few years before his death, he formed a law partnership with Charles E. Holt of Norway, and spent a portion of his time each week at their office in Norway Village. Mr. Black practiced in both the State and United States Courts. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress, for the second district, in 1870; he was always a Democrat.
BENJ. C. CUMMINGS.
Benjamin Chandler Cummings, son of Simeon, was born June 6, 1820. He was educated to the profession of the law, but engaged quite extensively in other business. He was at one time interested in manufacturing woolen goods at Locke's Mills, and operated quite largely in real estate. After practicing in Paris for a few years, he moved to Portland and engaged in practice there. He married a daughter of the late ex-Governor Samuel Wells, and died Dec. 18, 1857.
ENOCH L. CUMMINGS.
Enoch Lincoln Cummings, son of Simeon and brother of Benj. C. Cummings, was also educated to the legal profession, was admitted
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Gwo. A.Wilson
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to the bar and engaged in practice in Portland. He was born May 23d, 1827, and died January 22, 1859. He married a daughter of the late Judge Nathan Clifford.
JAMES F. RAWSON.
James Freeland Rawson, son of Samuel Rawson, entered Water- ville College, graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1844, and went into practice in Bangor with Henry E. Prentiss. He served a term as Register of Probate and was for a time Deputy Collector of Customs. He was for many years a member of the City Government of Bangor, and member of the Legislature in 1871. He married Sarah D., daughter of Thomas Jenness of Ban- gor.
LYMAN RAWSON.
Lyman Rawson, son of Abner, born in Paris, May 6, 1799, gradu- ated at Waterville College, now Colby University, in 1827, studied law with Stephen Emery and, after being admitted, settled at Rum- ford Point, where he continued in the practice for many years. He was also much in political life ; served several terms in the Legisla- ture, and one as Judge of Probate for Oxford county. He also did much business outside of the legal profession in the way of buying and letting out stock, and in farming. He was very fond of agri- culture and of rural affairs generally. He married, May 20, 1832, Jerusha, daughter of Capt. James and Jerusha (Rawson) Holmes of Hebron. Judge Rawson died of heart disease, in Rumford, several years ago.
GEORGE E. WILSON.
George E. Wilson is the son of Rev. Adam Wilson, D. D., for- merly pastor of the Baptist Church at the Hill, and was born in Turner, July 21, 1842. He was educated at Paris Hill Academy, Waterville Classical Institute, and graduated from Colby University in the class of 1862. He enlisted in 1862, in Company B, of the 21st Maine Regiment, and served out his term. He then returned to Waterville and read law in the office of Hon. Reuben Foster, and was admitted to the Kennebec bar in 1864. He came to South Paris and opened a law office in July, 1865, and the following August 24, he married Miss Annie L., daughter of David Blake of Belgrade. He was elected Town Clerk soon after he came here, and has served in that capacity since his first election. He was elected to the
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Legislature in 1882, and took high rank in that body. In 1884 he was appointed Judge of Probate to fill out a vacancy caused by a change from annual to biennial elections. He is a good lawyer and a safe counsellor.
HERRICK C. DAVIS.
Herrick Chase Davis is the son of Benjamin and Ruhamah (Chase) Davis, and was born in Woodstock, November 5, 1825. He was engaged in business pursuits for several years after he came to his majority, but finally studied law with Hon. John J. Perry and was admitted to the bar. He opened an office at Bryant's Pond and was there until 1872, when he was elected Register of Probate, and soon after moved to Paris Hill. He has filled the office by re-elec- tions since that time. Before coming here he was elected to the Maine Legislature and held various town offices. He married Lucy M., daughter of Jeremiah Felt of Woodstock.
JAMES S. WRIGHT.
James S. Wright was born in Jay, July 17, 1845. His father is Reuben Wright, and his mother, Sarah Putnam. He attended the town schools and the high schools at Wilton and Dixfield, studied law with Hon. Wm. W. Bolster at Dixfield, and was admitted to the Oxford bar at the September term of 1868. He was elected Clerk of the Courts in 1872, and moved to Paris Hill, January 1, 1873. He was re-elected twice and was then elected County Attorney, which position he is now filling. He married, May 2d, 1869, Miss Hannah E. Woodbury. He has been among the most respected and valuable of our citizens who have come here on account of election to office.
OTHER LAWYERS.
The other Paris lawyers, the data for sketches of whom are not at hand, are John Goodenow of Baltimore ; Benjamin W. Bryent, who was the son of John S. Bryent of Chatham, N. H., came here to teach, studied law with Gen. Wm. K. Kimball, was in active practice here for several years, was Postmaster at South Paris, and who died suddenly of diphtheria, as stated in the Annals ; Peter C. Ficket, son of Simon Ficket of Woodstock, afterwards of Paris, who first opened an office at South Paris, but for many years has been at West Paris ; and Charles B. Benson, also located at West Paris.
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'.These are the lawyers of Paris ; and well may the town point to them with satisfaction and pride, and as an example to those coming after them ; for well have they performed their parts in their day and generation. Many have conferred high distinction upon it ; none, thank God, have brought discredit. Long may their memory .live !"
CHAPTER XXXIX.
FREE MASONRY AND ODD FELLOWSHIP.
MASONS.
OXFORD LODGE No. 18. The charter for Oxford Lodge No. 18, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Sept. 14. 1807, to the following petitioners :
Henry Farwell, Elias Stowell, Seth Morse, Alfred Gates, Abraham Dean, Levi Hubbard, Joseph Gallison, Lu- ther Farrar, Joseph Rust, Wm. Bridgham, Jr., Oren Record, Daniel Stowell, Learned Swallow, Benjamin Heald, Abijah Buck, Barnabas Perry, Daniel Young, Stephen Blake and Samuel Robinson.
The first meeting under the charter was held at Hubbard's Hall, Paris Hill, Nov. 12, 1807, and organized with the following officers :
Henry Farwell, Worshipful Master ; Elias Stowell, Senior War- den ; Seth Morse, Junior Warden ; Levi Hubbard, Treasurer ; Joseph Rust, Secretary ; Learned Swallow, Senior Deacon ; Daniel Young, Junior Deacon ; Joseph Gallison, Senior Steward ; Stephen Blake, Junior Steward ; Barnabas Perry, Tyler.
The following were made Masons during the year 1808 : Russell Hubbard, Alanson Mellen, Simeon Cummings and Daniel Stowell, Jr. September 21, 1808, there was a public installation of officers at the meeting-house, Paris Hill, by the Deputy Grand Master* when the following programme was carried out :
*The number of Jenk's Portland Gazette for September 26, had the following notice : "On Wednesday last, Oxford Lodge, at Paris, was consecrated, and its officers installed in
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First, installation of the officers elect as follows : Henry Farwell, W. M .; Elias Stowell, S. W. ; Levi Hubbard, T. ; Joseph Rust, Sec. : Alanson Mellen, S. D. ; Daniel Young. J. D. ; Russell Hub- bard, S. S. ; Stephen Blake, J. S. ; Barnabas Perry, Tyler ; 2d, Music ; 3d, Oration by Gen. Samuel Fessenden ; 4th, Procession to Hubbard's Hall, and 5th, dinner.
More than three-fourths of a century have passed since the occa- sion here noted, and the prominent actors in those festivities have long since been called from labor. It was doubtless a red letter day in the history of the lodge.
1809. Henry Farwell, W. M. ; Joseph Rust, Secretary. New members, Albion K. Parris, Aaron S. Barton, Isaac Thayer.
1810. Henry Farwell, W. M. ; Joseph Rust, Secretary. New members, John Greenwood, Wm. Wheeler.
1811. Albion K. Parris, . W. M. ; Alanson Mellen, Secretary. New members : Joel Robinson, Jesse Stone, Dexter Wheeler.
1812. Albion K. Parris, W. M. ; Alanson Mellen, Secretary. New member, Solomon Allen.
1813. Albion K. Parris, W. M. ; Alanson Mellen, Secretary. New member, Gustavus A. Poor.
1814. Stephen Blake, W. M. ; Joseph Rust, Secretary, who died during the year, and the place was filled by Dr. Jacob Tewksbury. New members. Wm. Reed, Joshua Carpenter, Ebenezer Daniels.
1815. Stephen Blake, W. M. ; Jacob Tewksbury, Secretary. New members, Moses Buck, Aaron Brown, John Thayer, Alden Blossom.
1816. Alanson Mellen, W. M. ; Jacob Tewkesbury, Secretary. New members, Thomas Brown of Minot, John Woodbury, Wm. Stearns, Jr., Aaron Fuller, Jr., Joel Fuller, Alvan Boyden, James Bowker.
1817. Alanson Mellen, W. M. ; Joshua Carpenter, Secretary: New members, Daniel Macomber, Amariah Harris, Nathaniel Har- low.
1818. Alanson Mellen, W. M .; Stephen Emery, Sec. New members, Stephen Emery, A. Pratt, Ephraim Frost. June 10, 1818, D. D. G. M. Gammon admonished the Lodge "to let neither the disputes of politics nor the disputes of religion, enter within the walls
dne form by R. W. J. D. Hopkins, Esq., D. D. G. M. A truly elegant and highly finished oration was pronounced by Brother Samuel Fessenden of Fryeburg." Mr. Hopkins was a Portland lawyer, and father of the wife of St. John Smith; he died in 1840, aged 67.
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of the Lodge." Jan. 7, 1819, on motion of the Secretary, Stephen Emery, which was seconded by Dr. Tewksbury, "voted that the funds of Oxford Lodge be no longer appropriated to provide refresh- ments."
1819. Jacob Tewksbury, W. M. ; Abijah Hall, Sec. New mem- bers, Thomas Dean, Galen Holmes.
1820. Jacob Tewksbury, W. M. ; Abijah Hall, Sec. New mem- ber, Levi Rawson.
1821. Alanson Mellen, W. M. ; Thomas Clark, Sec. New mem- bers, Orrin Shaw, Emmor Rawson, Thomas Clark, Ira Morse, Sim- eon W. Hawks.
"OXFORD LODGE, MASON'S HALL, June 22, 1821.
Whereas, Brother Orren Shaw of Paris, in the County of Oxford, on the 10th day of June, A. D. 1822, by a sudden and desolating fire, had his house and other buildings reduced to ashes, together with almost all his furniture, provisions and clothing, by which calamity, he, his wife and two small children, with the prospect of an increasing family, are brought to absolute want and thrown upon the mercy of benevolent men in general and of the fraternity in a special manner, and whereas, from a long acquaintance with our said brother, Orrin Shaw, we know him to be a Mason in heart as well as in name and a useful and highly respected citizen. Therefore,
Resolved, That in addition to the actual relief which we can afford. the Secretary be directed to communicate with the Grand Lodge and the Lodges in this vicinity, and request such assistance for our aforesaid brother as they may feel able and disposed to grant."
1822. Rufus Stowell, W. M. ; Henry W. Millett. Sec. New members, Henry Millett, John Millett, Amos Millett, John Robin- · son.
1823. Rufus Stowell, W. M .; Zenas Maxim, Sec. New mem- bers, Isaac Cummings, Jr., Zenas Maxim, David Paine, Cyprian Cole, Benjamin Bacon.
1824. Officers Sept. 2, Rufus Stowell, W. M. ; Thomas Clark, Sec. New members, Isaiah Perkins, Levi Stowell, William Noyes, John R. Briggs, John Bicknell, R. T. Lurvey.
1825. Abijah Hall, Jr., W. M. ; Thomas Clark, Sec. May 26, voted that a committee of two be chosen to wait on brother
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endeavor to reclaim him for his immoral and unmasonic conduct and report at the next meeting. New member, Samuel McAllister.
1826. March 6, the Lodge was incorporated, and the mem- bers accepted the Act Apr. 20, 1826 ; signed, Levi Stowell, Abijah Hall, Jr., Rufus Stowell, Simeon Chipman, Levi Rawson, John Mil- lett and Emmor Rawson. Stephen Emery, W. M. ; Thomas Clark, Sec. New member, Benjamin McAllister.
1827. John R. Briggs, W. M. ; Thomas Clark, Sec. New mem- ber, Jonathan Millett. March 9, 1827, "Voted that the Secretary of this Lodge pay or remit to Brother Alfred Gates, formerly a worthy member of this Lodge, the sum of fifteen dollars as an expres- sion of the deep regret the members entertain for the loss he recently sustained by having his property consumed by fire." (Two children were consumed in the buildings in Lincoln, to which place he removed from this town). New members, Daniel R. Parsons, Richard Blake, George Hathaway.
Voted May 18, 1830, "That there shall be no ardent spirits brought within the walls of this Lodge for the use of its members."
1830. Festival of St. John at Norway, June 24, 1830. Address by Brother Benjamin B. Murray, at the Universalist church. Here follows a blank of twenty-three years, when there was a special com- munication of Oxford Lodge at the dwelling-house of Abijah Hall, South Paris, and the following named brethren were chosen as offi- cers, pro tem : Abijah Hall, W. M. ; Rufus Stowell, S. W. ; Emmor Rawson, J. W. ; Stephen Emery, Sec. ; Zenas Maxim, Treasurer ; Stephen Blake, S. D. ; Wm. Stearns, J. D. ; Benjamin Bacon, Tyler. Brethren present, Samuel Stowell, Daniel Town and Amos Winslow. Voted to re-establish the Oxford Lodge.
June 22, 1853, the Lodge assembled at the Academy building. The D. D. G. M., Joseph Covell, installed the officers-elect, for the remainder of the year : Abijah Hall, W. M. ; Rufus Stowell, S. W. ; Stephen Blake, J. W. ; Henry Millett, Treasurer ; Emmor Rawson, S. D. ; Zenas Maxim, J. D. ; Amos Winslow, Tyler.
1853. Raised June 27, Otis True, Wm. Wirt Virgin and Geo. W. Millett.
March 17, 1854, voted to petition the Grand Lodge for a dispen- sation to hold their meetings in the town of Norway.
Petition to the M. W. Grand Lodge: Humbly showeth, the W. M., Officers and Brethren of Oxford Lodge No. 18, that the Lodge is now located at Paris, at which place there is no convenient hall in
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which to work, that a large majority of the members of said Lodge reside in Norway, where a good, safe and convenient hall, owned by a member of the Lodge, can be obtained, disconnected with any other building or for other purpose. Therefore, we pray your Hon- orable Body to grant a dispensation, authorizing said Lodge to meet and work in Norway. The petition was signed by Alden Palmer, Master. May 5, 1854, permission was granted and the Lodge was moved to Norway, where they held their first communication May 11, 1854.
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