USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 64
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
been open upon our Altar ever since, that " no one may pre- tend ignorance of the excellent principles it enjoins."
It was also " Voted that the treasurer [Philip S. Harvey] " procure all necessary Jewels and Furniture for this Lodge as " soon as possible." While the record is silent, that he per- formed that duty, we may infer from the record of the Reg. Com. held Oct. 22d following, when it was " Voted that the " Stewards remove the Jewels and Furniture to Bro. Greene " French's Hall in New London some time between the com- " munications in November and December next," also " Voted " that a Committee be Chosen to make Suitable arrangements " at Bro. French's Hall for the reception of the Lodge."
This committee consisted of Bros. Arnold Ellis and Philip S. Harvey. The annual meeting, Dec. 24th, was held in Bro. French's hall to which the jewels and furniture were removed Nov. 19th. The lodge at this time received an official visit from R. W. Bro. John Harris, D. D. G. M. It was “ Voted " that the Secretary [Bro. Arnold Ellis] procure a set of work- " ing tools in masonry for the use of King Solomon's Lodge."
The lodge celebrated the festival of St. John at Bro. Jonathan Harvey's hall in Sutton June 25th, 1807, at which an address was delivered by Bro. Joshua Young. Eben Cressey was chosen to act as marshal. Bro. Young received the thanks of the lodge and ten dollars in cash for his service, and was requested to furnish a copy of his discourse for the printer. Another proposition to remove the lodge from Bro. French's, to Bro. John Woodman's hall, was made Jan. 8, 1808, to lie over to the next regular communication, and we find, accordingly, that on February 10th it was " voted to remove the jewels of this lodge to Bro. John Woodman's hall."
There the lodge found a permanent home, up to and includ- ing the regular communication on April 14, 1813.
During this period of little more than five years, the lodge enjoyed great prosperity-its meetings were well and regularly attended-a large amount of work was performed, and its mem- bership largely increased and strengthened. A perusal of the records would indicate that a spirit of brotherly love prevailed, and that the tenets of our Order were well and faithfully obeyed.
Previous to this period the " grim tyrant," death, had not
7II
KING SOLOMON'S LODGE.
entered the lodge, but on August 7th, 1812, the lodge was called upon to perform the last sad rites, which the living owe their dead, over the remains of Bro. Daniel Noyes, Esq., of Springfield.
The lodge, assisted by brethren from other lodges, convened in the home of the deceased at II o'clock A. M. and opened the lodge. At 3 P. M., formed in procession and moved to the church, where a funeral discourse was delivered by Judge Evans, after which they proceeded to the place of interment where the remains were deposited with the honors of Masonry. Returned to the hall and closed the lodge. Brethren present :
Daniel Woodbury, W. M .; Samuel Robie, S. W .; Joseph Harvey, J. W. ; Job Seamans, Jr., Secretary ; Daniel Warner, Senior Grand Warden ; Eliphalet Gay, Samuel Cilley, Joseph Cilley, Amos Pressey, Ebenezer Sargent, Samuel Little, John Quimby, Amasa Howard, Philip S. Harvey, Dr. Robert Lane, John King, Wheeler Woodbury, Greene French, Nathan Rowe, Samuel Greaves, Moses Hills, John Stickney, William Proc- tor, A. Whittemore, J. Bartlett, S. C. Bartlett, (J. Noten ?), N. Currier, R. Currier, D. Currier, J. Morgan, and J. Merrill, Master Masons ; J. Jones and J. C. Gale, Fellow Crafts ; John Huse, Entered Apprentice.
At the regular meeting, April 14, 1813, which seems to be the last held at John Woodman's hall, a committee was chosen, consisting of Samuel Robie, Robert Lane, Samuel Kimball, Nathan Rogers, and J. Harvey, to make arrangements for celebrating the festival of St. John the Baptist. To the above- named committee was also referred the moving of the lodge.
A special meeting was called at Bro. Daniel Woodbury's, on Wednesday preceding the next full moon. At that meeting it was "voted to reconsider the vote passed at the last regular "meeting respecting celebrating the festival of St. John the " Baptist," and also "voted, to remove this lodge from Bro. " Woodman's to Bro. Daniel Woodbury's, and that the lodge " meet there for the future."
A special meeting was held at Bro. Woodbury's on April 27th, "for the purpose of Initiating, passing, and raising Mr. "Joseph Pike of Sutton, at his request, as he was immediately " to march with the Troops to Canada." The three degrees were conferred upon him at this meeting by dispensation.
712
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Another case of " military necessity " occurred at the annual meeting December Ist, when " Jonathan Kimball was proposed to be made a Mason in this Lodge." It was " voted to dis- " pense with the By-Laws, on account of his expecting to en- " gage immediately in the United States service, and that the " ballot be now taken."
" He was ballotted for, found Clear and Initiated."
Names of those who received the degree of Master Mason in King Solomon's Lodge from 1802 to Feb. 4, 1814 :
1802 - Greene French, Charles Colburn, John Quimby, Samuel Little, Josiah Morse, Eliphalet Gay, Samuel Rogers, Thomas Pike, Nathan Rogers ; 1803 - James Taylor, David Swett, John Stickney, Joshua Currier, Barach Chase, Matthew Harvey, Duty Stickney, Silas Thorla, Charles Hogg, Amos Pressey, William Proctor ; 1804 - Abner Flanders, Philip S. Harvey, Samuel Robie, Ebenezer Noyes, Arnold Ellis, Samuel Cilley, Diah Hutchinson ; 1805 - John Baker, Wheeler Woodbury, William Blake; 1806-Joshua Sawyer, Job Sea- mans, Jr., Ebenezer Sargent, James Minot, Nathan Rowe, John McClure ; 1807-Joseph Cilley, Samuel Kimball ; 1808 - Elijah Hilton ; 1809-Samuel Fuller ; 1810, 1811 - Dr. Robert Lane; 1811, 1812 - Dr. Amasa Howard; 1812 - Nathan Leach ; 1813 - Joseph Pike, David Colcord, Benja- min Thompson, John Woodbury ; 1814 - Jonathan Kimball.
No known records exist of the intervening period (1814- 1832), and it is supposed they were lost or destroyed during the anti-Masonic excitement, though it is known that the lodge continued its organization all through those troublous times.
May 9, 1832, " Voted, That the Lodge and furniture be " removed to the house of Greene French before the next reg- " ular communication."
No record from that date till Jan. 30, 1833, when Robert Lane proposed moving the lodge to North Sutton, "and to petition the Grand Lodge for a dispensation for that purpose."
Feb. 27, 1833, " Voted, To consider Bro. Robert Lane's " proposition to remove to North Sutton at the annual commu- " nication in May."
There is no record from that time to Jan. 27, 1836.
In May, 1839, " Voted, To meet once in six months, May and November." Job Seamans was then secretary.
713
KING SOLOMON'S LODGE.
Feb. 12, 1851, the first meeting was held in Stockwell hall, at Wilmot Flat, and no other till the 26th of May.
Bro. Job Seamans was buried with Masonic honors July 12, 1855.
June 3, 1857, a petition was drawn up for the consent of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge to allow K. S. Lodge to remove to North Sutton, Dr. Lane being very active in the cause ; and the representative-elect was instructed to present it to the Grand Lodge, and a committee consisting of Gilman Greeley and Perley Sargent appointed to find a suitable hall or room to meet in. To this the Grand Lodge would not consent, and therefore it could not be moved.
In December, 1857, Voted, To secure the use of Otis Jones's hall, then in process of erection, and voted that it be named Masonic Hall.
From 1856 to 1860, large additions were made to the lodge, most of the new members coming from Andover and Grafton.
On the 20th of June, 1866, the following were dimitted from K. S. Lodge for the purpose of organizing a new lodge at Andover, named Kearsarge, No. 81. :
John M. Shirley, George Sleeper, Charles H. Morrill, Benj. F. Kilburn, George H. Haley, Joseph D. Philbrick, George H. Morrill, William H. Huntoon, John Fellows, Henry A. Wey- mouth, Henry C. Dugan, Moses P. Thompson, John C. Web- ster, George P. Titcomb, Horace S. Clay, Harlan P. Prescott, Aaron Cilley, David Haines, William A. Batchelder, William Dunlap, Simeon S. Moulton, Charlton W. Woodbury.
Those dimitted to form Mt. Moriah Lodge, at Grafton, were, - Stephen Fellows, Hosea D. Barney, Horace Webster, George W. Webster, Andrew I. Webster, Byron Fellows, James W. Kelton, James B. Bullock, Alfred S. Williams, John S. Ford, Cromwell Kimball.
This took from King Solomon's so many members who were living in these jurisdictions as to greatly weaken it, both finan- cially and in membership.
In the summer of 1877 the Grand Lodge gave its consent to its removal to Scytheville, where it built its hall building, and where it has remained for twenty years.
Masters of King Solomon's Lodge : 1803, Stephen Hoyt, Benjamin Swett; 1807, John Quimby ; 1808, Philip S. Har-
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
vey ; 1809, Amos Ellis ; 1810-1812, Daniel Woodbury ; 1813, Joseph Harvey ; 1828, John Harvey ; 1829-1839, Greene French ; 1840, 1841, Joseph Harvey ; 1842, 1843, Theodore Abbot ; 1844, 1845, Gilman Greeley ; 1846, 1847, Levi Fowler ; 1848- 1851, William Lee ; 1852, 1853, Benjamin R. Andrew ; 1854, William W. Flanders ; 1855, 1856, Stephen R. Swett ; 1857, 1858, John M. Hayes; 1859, Stephen R. Swett; 1860, John M. Hayes ; 1861, Stephen R. Swett; 1862, 1863, Edgar L. Wheeler ; 1864, Stephen Fellows ; 1865, Joseph D. Philbrick ; 1866, Edgar L. Wheeler; 1867, Andrew J. Sargent ; 1868, 1869, Edwin A. Jones ; 1870-1872, Sumner E. Philbrick ; 1873, Edwin A. Jones ; 1874, Frank H. Clough ; 1875, Sumner E. Philbrick ; 1876-1880, Edwin A. Jones ; 1881, 1882, George B. Clough ; 1883, Frank O. Dow; 1884, 1885, Herbert B. Swett ; 1886, 1887, Edwin A. Jones ; 1888, 1889, Charles A. Todd ; 1890, 1891, Charlton W. Woodbury ; 1892, Herbert B. Swett ; 1893, Charles F. Wilson ; 1894, Stephen J. Dean ; 1895, 1896, Charles A. Lamson ; 1897, John K. Law.
FARMERS' CLUB.
The New London Farmers' club antedated the grange organization by several years, its first records bearing the date of Feb. 15, 1872. In the few years of its existence it appears to have faithfully followed out the purposes set forth in its preamble, which was as follows :
" Whereas the acquisition of knowledge in all the depart- "ments of human industry is eminently desirable, and in " nothing more so than in the pursuits of the husbandman ; " and knowing also that experience is one of the most reliable " sources of knowledge ; and whereas free mutual discussion " is one of the most felicitous means of communication, and " being desirous to promote the best interests of agriculture in " the community, we do hereby form ourselves into a society, " for the above purpose."
The names affixed to this preamble were,-J. C. Herrick, Luther McCutchins, Curtis Messer, Albert S. Worthen, Edwin F. Messer, David Towle, N. A. Parker, Charles Crockett, Micajah Morgan, Henry R. Gates, Belden Morgan, Nathaniel Knowlton, Henry W. Seamans, William S. Messer, Moses.
715
NEW LONDON GRANGE.
J. Adams, Baxter Gay, Adelbert Messer, R. A. Farwell, James H. Brown, Hiram Sargent, H. M. Fales, Seth Little- field, Edwin P. Burpee, George M. Knight.
The first officers of the club were,-President, H. M. Fales ; vice-president, N. A. Parker; secretary and treasurer, Seth Littlefield ; executive committee, Moses J. Adams, Charles Crockett, Anthony C. Burpee.
NEW LONDON GRANGE.
When the organizing of a grange was first suggested in New London many of our good people were much alarmed. The grange was a secret society, and surely no good could come of it. But there were some staunch friends of the Order to defend it, and the idea took definite form when, Thursday evening, Oct. 25, 1883, a meeting of all interested in agricult- ural improvements and the organization of a grange, of the Order Patrons of Husbandry, was held by the citizens of New London in Armory hall at the town house. The meeting was called to order by W. H. Stinson, General Deputy, P. of H., of the state, Sylvester Felch of Sutton grange acting as secre- tary, and George White, also of Sutton grange, as gate- keeper. After preliminary remarks by the deputy the declara- tion of purpose was read, followed by a brief talk on the objects, aims, and present condition of the Order in the state and country. Those whose names were not on the petition for membership withdrew from the hall, and a grange was organ- ized with twenty-two charter members. Of these four have withdrawn from the order, leaving eighteen in good standing. Their names are as follows :
Joseph M. Clough, Charles W. Gay, Baxter Gay, James E. Shepard, Willis J. Sargent, Ransom F. Sargent, Reverdy F. Smith, Edward A. Todd, Samuel P. Towle, Charlton W. Woodbury, Miss Lucy N. Shepard, Mrs. Cornelia Clough, Mrs. Anna Gay, Miss Elzina M. Smith, Mrs. Maria E. Sar- gent, Miss Maria A. Gay, Mrs. Lucia N. Shepard, Mrs. Mary A. Woodbury.
Officers were elected and installed by the deputy. Names of officers for the remainder of the year are as follows :
Master, James E. Shepard; overseer, Charles W. Gay ;
716
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
lecturer, Charlton W. Woodbury ; steward, Willis J. Sargent ; assistant steward, Samuel P. Towle; chaplain, Joseph M. Clough; treasurer, Ransom F. Sargent; secretary, Jacob H. Todd; gate-keeper, Reverdy F. Smith ; Pomona, Miss Maria A. Gay ; Flora, Miss Elzina M. Smith; Ceres, Mrs. Lucia N. Shepard ; lady assistant steward, Mrs. Maria E. Sargent.
The honor of choosing a name for the grange was given to a committee of five,-Charlton W. Woodbury, Jacob H. Todd, Joseph M. Clough, Mrs. Cornelia Clough, and Miss Maria A. Gay, which reported that the name should be "New London Grange." It was henceforth known as New London Grange, No. 95.
From January, 1884, to January, 1898, the masters were as follows : James E. Shepard, three years ; Charles W. Gay, two years ; Baxter Gay, two years ; Edgar F. Sargent, one year ; George M. Knight, one year; Willie M. Knowlton, three years ; John D. Pingree, two years.
Meetings were held at the town hall until Currier's hall was fitted up for the use of the grange. This was occupied until October 2, 1895. At a meeting of the grange, May 1, 1895, it was voted to build a grange hall, and a building committee was appointed as follows : Baxter Gay, Willie M. Knowlton, Frank W. Knowlton, James E. Shepard, and Frank M. Stan- ley. On July 17, the report of the first meeting of the grange as an incorporated body was read. The following is a copy of the certificate of incorporation :
" The undersigned, being persons of lawful age, associate " themselves under the provisions of chapter 147 of the Public " Statutes of New Hampshire by the following
"ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT :
" ARTICLE I. The name of this corporation shall be 'New " London Grange P. of H.'
" ART. 2. The object for which this corporation is established " is to purchase a site, to erect and furnish a hall thereon, and " to maintain the same.
" ART. 3. The place in which the business of this corpora-
" tion is to be carried on is New London, N. H.
" ART 4. The first meeting of this corporation shall be held " at the town hall Wednesday, July 10, 1895, at 8 o'clock, p. m.
1
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NEW LONDON GRANGE.
"Signed : W. M. Knowlton, New London, N. H. ; James " E. Shepard, New London, N. H. ; Baxter Gay, New Lon- " don, N. H .; Frank W. Knowlton, New London, N. H. ; " Frank M. Stanley, New London, N. H.
"STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, " OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, " CONCORD, June 29, 1895.
" Received and recorded in records of Voluntary Corpora- " tions, Vol. 8, pp. 372-73.
" EZRA S. STEARNS, " Secretary of State.
"NEW LONDON, N. H., July 16, 1895.
" Received and recorded in town records, page 413.
"REO E. FARWELL, " Town Clerk."
Grange hall was formally dedicated by R. D. Gay of Man- chester, on the afternoon of Nov. 6, 1895 ; Past Master Baxter Gay was master of ceremonies. An original poem was read, and there were congratulatory remarks by many friends. There are at present one hundred and thirteen members. The regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month from May till September inclusive, and every Wednesday evening during the remaining months.
The Grange paper, Patrons' Progress, was first edited and given a name by Mrs. Jennie B. Messer, Jan. 31, 1884. Since then it has been edited and read sixty times. Select read- ings, declamations, recitations, essays, discussions, dramas, dialogues, " chip-baskets," spelling-matches, etc., find places on our programmes and help to make the meetings both enter- taining and instructive. The first agricultural fair in town was held by this grange at the town hall, October, 1885. Public entertainments are held several times during the year, and are always a success. Arbor Day and Children's Day have been observed, oftentimes with interesting programmes.
In 1894 this grange was the recipient of a beautiful clock, the donor being Mrs. George M. Knight of this town.
During the fifteen years since the organization of this grange, only five of its members have died,-Miss Susie C. Burpee,
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Miss Nellie Ross, Augustus L. Putney, Mrs. George P. Sholes, Edwin P. Burpee.
The growth of New London Grange has always been steady, and its most sanguine friends in its infancy could hardly have predicted its present prosperity. Much of it is due to the spirit of harmony and loyalty to the Order which its members have shown. There have been no petty jealousies nor fault-findings, but an unselfish desire on the part of each for the good of all.
The power of the Order is recognized everywhere. Incul- cating as it does a love of the beautiful in nature, recognizing woman as the equal of man and his co-worker, reverencing God as the great Master, may its loyal friends increase with the years.
ANTHONY COLBY POST, G. A. R.
Post No. 85, Department of New Hampshire, was organized at New London, Tuesday evening, September 15, 1885, in conformity to a notice from Department Commander Collis of Portsmouth that he would be in New London on the above- named date for the purpose of organizing the post and install- ing the necessary officers. The comrades gathered in Grange hall at the appointed time, and the following were mustered in as charter members of the post :
William A. Messer, Joseph M. Clough, Mark B. Means, John K. Law, Francis E. Derby, Robert McConnell, Willard Reed, Francis P. Messer, Ransom F. Sargent, Charles Wood- ward, John Roby, Merrill Robie, John M. Messer, Austin Goings, Perry B. Flanders, George M. Jewett, Alston Brown, Walter Pingree, Abner Durgin, John H. Ellis, Charlton W. Woodbury. Solon Cooper, who was unable to be present at the meeting because of total disability on account of a wound, was mustered in as a recruit at his home by Department Com- mander Collis during the afternoon.
The first board of officers elected were,-P. C., W. A. Mes- ser ; S. V., J. M. Clough; J. V., M. B. Means ; O. D., Robert McConnell; O. G., Willard Reed; O. M., F. E. Derby ; Adjt., John K. Law; Sur., John M. Messer ; Q. M. S., R. F. Sargent ; Sergt. Maj., F. P. Messer.
This post was named for the late Governor Anthony Colby,
719
HEIDELBERG LODGE, I. O. O. F.
and very early in its history Gen. Daniel E. Colby presented a sum sufficient to purchase a handsome silk banner. Mrs. Susan (Colby) Colgate gave an elegantly bound photograph album for portraits of the comrades, and George Woodward presented a handsome autograph album. Other much-prized gifts to the post are an oil painting of the late Governor Colby, presented by his daughter, and a fine portrait of General Luther McCutchins, presented by his daughter, Elizabeth (McCutchins) Blood.
Regular meetings of the post were at first held in Currier hall, on the first and third Mondays of each month. Later the by-laws were amended so that from June till October meetings were held only once a month, and during the remaining months once in two weeks. After the removal of the grange to their new hall, the quarters of the post were also changed. Each year since its organization the post has observed Memorial Sunday by attendance in a body on divine service, and on Memorial Day have faithfully performed their obligations to the heroic dead. The town appropriates $25 each year to aid the post in the observance of Memorial Day. The post is in a prosperous condition and has the loyal support of the citizens in all its plans and purposes. Those who have joined the post since its organization are,-George H. Sanders, Andrew J. Sargent, Rev. Silas F. Dean, George P. Sholes, Thomas Chase, Stephen P. Colby, Isaac J. Lovering, Rev. Stephen C. Fletcher, Thomas S. Davis, George R. McFarland, Rev. Dura P. Morgan, Frederic Hill.
HEIDELBERG LODGE, I. O. O. F.
Several times in the history of New London, previous to 1895, the organization of a lodge of Odd Fellows had been agitated ; but an examination of the conditions seemed to indi- cate that the time was not ripe for such a society. Particularly the lack of a suitable hall in which to hold the meetings pre- vented any steps in the direction of a lodge.
In the spring of 1895, Mr. J. F. P. Call, a member of Cen- tral Lodge, No. 67, of Warner, again began to agitate the ques- tion of such a lodge. He found quite a number of brother Odd
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
Fellows, some of whom he did not suspect to belong to the organization, while other men, not themselves members, ex- pressed a readiness to unite with the Order, should opportunity offer. Among these, the late Charles A. Todd was the most prominent, and to his efforts, more than to any other one per- son, the culmination of the plans for the organization of Heidel- berg Lodge is due. But his efforts and those of Mr. Call must have proved futile had they not been ably seconded by the sympathy and practical aid of several others, prominent among whom were Professor Griffin of Colby academy, and Eugene C. Derby. These four brothers together rendered efficient ser- vice to the Order in many ways, and did very much to make the early days of the lodge a promise of a successful career.
On May Ioth, Charles A. Todd, Charles E. Shepard, and Willard C. Leonard went to Sunapee and were initiated into Rock Ezel Lodge, No. 79, for the purpose of signing a petition to the grand lodge of the state of New Hampshire for a charter for a subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows at New London; and on the same evening, the several degrees were conferred upon the three brothers.
A preliminary meeting was held in the town hall about April 20th, for consultation and to decide on the advisability of a lodge, at which the following were present : Charles A. Todd, Charles E. Shepard, La Roy F. Griffin, Willard C. Leonard, Eugene C. Derby, George Hayes, and Frank B. Morgan, and so much interest was manifested that it was decided to petition the grand lodge for a charter. The petition was sent to Grand Secretary Joseph Kidder, and bore the following names : La Roy F. Griffin, Charles A. Todd, J. Franklin P. Call, Eugene C. Derby, Charles E. Shepard, Willard C. Leonard, George Hayes, Frank B. Morgan, Archie M. Hayes, Charles F. Putney, Orin F. Hill, and John K. Law.
On June 17, 1895, Grand Master Edwin D. Ward, Grand Secretary Joseph Kidder, and Grand Marshal Milton Colby came to New London for the purpose of instituting the new lodge. They found nearly a hundred brother Odd Fellows from neighboring towns assembled in the hall then occupied by the New London Grange, now known as Sargent's hall, and the grand master called them to order at 4 p. m., and stated the object which had brought them together. The other grand
721
HEIDELBERG LODGE, I. O. O. F.
lodge chairs were filled pro tempore by the following visiting brothers :
Deputy grand master, John K. Dame, of Lodge No. 34; grand warden, Moses L. Sargent, of No. 79 ; grand treasurer, A. H. Davis, of No. 51 ; grand guardian, Eugene Worthen, of No. 45 ; grand herald, A. E. Rogers, of No. 69 ; and grand chaplain, John M. Cooper. After prayer by the grand chaplain, the grand master declared the lodge opened in the third degree.
On calling the roll of the petitioners, all responded to their names except Brother John K. Law, and the obligation of charter members was taken by them, and the lodge was declared instituted.
Applications for membership were at once received from James E. Shepard, Sidney A. Smith, Walter P. Sargent, Fred Farwell, Alfred G. Sargent, George C. Bickford, Herman S. Adams, Ai Worthen, Benj. F. Sargent, and Arthur W. Holmes. These applicants were referred to an investigating committee who reported in favor of their election, and they were elected members.
The lodge met again at 8 p. m., when the degree staff of Rock Ezel Lodge, No. 79, of Sunapee, initiated the candidates and conferred the several degrees upon them all, thus making the membership of the lodge twenty-one.
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