History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 25

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 25

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Soon after the formation of this lodge Miss Ellen M. Stuart, daughter of the custodian of the historic Charter Oak at Hartford, Conn., presented it with a piece of that venerable tree, which is still preserved in the lodge-room.

The original jurisdiction of this lodge included nearly all of the town of Ossipee, and until the organization of Ossipee Valley Lodge obtained consid- erable material from there. It also made masons of quite a number of persons resident in Cornish, Porter, and Parsonsfield, Maine. At the present its juris- diction consists of portions of Effingham, Ossipee, and Wakefield.

A list of Masters : Frank W. Barker, 1873, 1874, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883 ; George P. Beal, 1876; John Blackmar, 1859; Jeremiah W. Dear- born, 1866, 1867, 1869; Alvah Doe, 1860, 1861, 1870 ; Alex. M. Drake, 1871, 1872; Cyrus K. Drake, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858; Josephus L. Drake, 1864, 1865; Joseph P. Emerson, 1862, 1863; Milton C. Morse, 1885 ; Melvin H. Nutter, 1887, 1888 ; C. Frank Rowe, 1884; L. Irving Rowe, 1889; Aldo M. Rumery, 1875, 1876, 1877 ; David Wedgwood, 1868.

District Deputy Grand Masters : Cyrus K. Drake, John Blackmar, Jere- miah W. Dearborn, Frank W. Barker.

Unity Lodge, No. 62, A. F. and A. M., of Union. - [By Charles W. Horne.] On the ninth day of June, 1857, A.L. 5857, Charles C. Hayes, Alvah Runnells, Joseph Sharpe, Oliver Seavey, Dr William B. Reynolds, James Tucker, Dr A. D. Merrow, and Hosea Runnells were granted a charter by the " Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire, constituting them," and "such others as shall thereafter join them," a regular lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The first officers were James Tucker, Worshipful Master;

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Charles C. Hayes, S. W .; Oliver Seavey, J. W. ; William B. Reynolds, secre- tary ; Lewis Plumer, treasurer ; Herbert F. Stevens, S. D .; Alvah Runnells, J. D .; Lewis Plumer, chaplain ; A. D. Merrow, S. S .; A. J. Lord, J. S .; Hosea Runnells, tyler. Bro. James Tucker continued to fill the master's chair until May, 1862, when Charles E. Swinerton was elected. He occupied that position for one year and was succeeded by Herbert F. Stevens, who served two years. John U. Simes, of Milton Mills, was the next in order. He served one year and gave way to Hon. Asa M. Brackett, who served six years in succession. Now Herbert F. Stevens again takes the "gavel " for one year. Charles A. Varney serves three years and makes room for Charles C. Hayes for two years. Albert O. Robinson, Hiram O. Stevens, Frank B. Drew, Charles W. Horne, and A. H. Chamberlain have each been master.

This lodge, like most country lodges, has had its days of adversity as well as prosperity. In December, 1870, the building in which the lodge-room was located was burned, and the lodge lost all its property except an organ, the records, and the altar. There was no insurance, and but a few dollars in the treasury. The members at once called a meeting and began to plan for the future. They did not, as is too often the case under such circumstances, solicit aid from other lodges, but, like true masons, put their hands into their own pockets and, with a small sum loaned by one of the brethren, soon had a complete new outfit and a comfortable, well-arranged lodge-room. From that time the lodge has prospered financially, its only loss being from a deposit of two hundred dollars in the savings-bank at Wolfeborough. This lodge now has one of the best-equipped halls in the county and a fund of six hundred dollars. This lodge has been instituted nearly thirty-two years, yet all of its past masters are living, and only two of the charter members have died, Dr William B. Reynolds and Joseph Sharpe. The membership is now one hundred and twenty-five. Bro. Bard B. Plummer has held the office of secretary for seven- teen years, and Charles W. Horne has filled more chairs than any other member, having held every office except secretary, treasurer, and marshal. Brothers Asa M. Brackett and Charles A. Varney have each served several terms as district deputy grand lecturer, and as district deputy grand master for this (No. 6) district.

Officers for 1889: Alexander H. Chamberlain, W. M. ; J. Frank Farnham, S. W .; Frank H. Moore, J. W .; Fred. E. Stevens, treasurer; Bard B. Plummer, secretary ; Daniel S. Burleigh, chaplain ; Jacob S. Adams, marshal ; George W. Burleigh, S. D .; Myron L. Johnson, J. D .: Joseph L. Johnson, S. S. ; Samuel D. Jones, J. S .; John F. Moore, tyler; Fred. E. Stevens, repre- sentative to the Grand Lodge; Charles W. Horne, John U. Simes, J. Frank Farnham, standing committee.

Bro. Asa M. Brackett was born in Wakefield, December 14, 1839. He was a farmer in early life, has been thirteen years in the employ of the Eastern

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

railroad as carpenter, and is now bookkeeper in the Portsmouth navy yard. He became a member of the lodge March 10, 1863, was master in 1868, and held the position several years, reelected in 1878, and was in office four years more ; lecturer in 1868, and district deputy grand master in 1882, 1883, 1884. He represented Wakefield in the legislature in 1870-71.

Carroll Lodge, No. 57, A. F. §. A. M., Freedom. - [By A. R. Bennett. ] This was chartered August 18, 1853. Its officers were Calvin Topliff, W. M. ; Elias Towle, S. W .; John M. Lord, J. W .; Augustus D. Merrow, secretary ; Horace P. Wood, treasurer ; Levi Clough, S. D .; Cyrus Fowler, J. D .; Taylor Lougee, tyler. The masters and terms of service from organization have been : Calvin Topliff, 1853 to 1859 and 1861 to 1867; Cyrus Fowler, 1859 to 1861; John Parsons, 1867 to 1869; James Milliken, 1869 to 1872, 1877 to 1879, 1883 to 1884; Charles Parsons, 1872 to 1874: William J. Bennett, 1874 to 1877, 1879 to 1881; Wentworth Tyler, 1881 to 1883; Charles H. Andrews, 1884 to 1886; Almon R. Bennett, 1886 to 1889. The present officers are Almon R. Bennett, W. M .; George I. Philbrick, S. W. ; John E. Perkins, J. W .; Stephen A. Stokes, S. D .; Ralph G. Foster, J. D .; George F. Huckins, secretary ; Elias I. Fowle, treasurer; Nathaniel Meserve, tyler; William W. Furbush, chaplain.

A comfortable hall for a lodge-room was completed and dedicated in June, 1854. The lodge has made over two hundred masons, is well officered, is in fine working form, and a very prosperous condition financially and otherwise. It has endeavored to exercise the fraternal spirit of the order, and inculcate its tenets of friendship, morality, and brotherly love. It has been tried and fully tested ; but has ever become purer, and its principles have shone the brighter, and its influence been widened. It has justly merited and fully obtained the respect and goodwill of this locality. During the last few years a large num- ber of the best class of the young men in its jurisdiction have become members and at present constitute the greater part of the officers. I am pleased to report Carroll Lodge in a very prosperous condition.

Red Mountain Lodge, No. 68, A. F. §. A. M., Sandwich Centre. - [By Dr S. B. Wiggin.] In 1859 Dr Tristram Sanborn and a few other Masons became interested in having a lodge established at Sandwich, and, on petition to the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, received a dispensation under which they held their first meeting in Odd Fellows' Hall, Sandwich Centre, August 24 of that year. There were present Dr Tristram Sanborn, W. M .; Rev. J. P. Stinchfield, S. W., and Elijah Skinner, J. W. The other members were Aaron B. Hoyt, David Haines, and Drs Moses Hoyt and Thomas Shannon. September 28, the first work of the lodge occurred in bestowing the E. A. degree upon C. C. Fellows, M. H. Marston, and W. A. Heard. There being at this time a deficiency in working members of the new lodge, a dispensation was granted Morning Star Lodge, No. 17, to pass and raise Brothers C. C.

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Fellows, W. A. Heard, and M. H. Marston to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason at a special meeting held in Wolfeborough November 2, 1859. Decem- ber 6 of the same year Brother Sanborn died, and the following dispensation was received from the Grand Lodge : -

To whom it may concern : Whereas on the twenty-sixth day of August, 1859, I granted a Dispensation to certain Brothers at Sandwich, N. H., to form a new Lodge by the name of Red Mountain Lodge, No. 68, in said town of Sandwich, and appointed Brother Tristram Sanborn to be their first Master under said Dispensation, etc. : And whereas, in the Providence of the S. G. M. of T. U., our said Brother Tristram Sanborn has been removed from his Lodge by the hand of death: And whereas the brethren of said Lodge have petitioned the Grand Master to appoint as his successor Brother C. C. Fellows to fill the vacancy under the dispensation aforesaid ; Therefore be it known, that by the power in me vested, I do hereby appoint the said Brother C. C. Fellows to be their Master under the said Dispensation until the annual meeting of our Grand Lodge in June next. Given under my hand and the seal of our Grand Lodge at Dover on the fourteenth day of December, A.D. 1859, A.L. 5859. Moses Paul, G. M.

In December a dispensation was granted Blazing Star Lodge, No. 11, to pass and raise Brothers Daniel G. Beede and William M. Weed, E. A., of this lodge, to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, at a special communication held at Concord December 26, 1859. In April, 1860, a code of by-laws and rules of order were adopted. The lodge acted under its dispensation till June 16, 1860, when it received its charter from the Grand Lodge. In addition to its original petitioners, Brothers C. C. Fellows, W. M. Weed, D. G. Beede, Dr Eben Wilkinson, and W. A. Heard were charter members. The lodge was organized with C. C. Fellows, W. M .; W. A. Heard, S. W .; and D. G. Beede, J. W. Brother Fellows remained master four years, and subsequently filled the chair at five different times. He was also Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge from 1861 to 1863 inclusive, and District Deputy Grand Master in 1864 and 1865. From its charter till his death in April, 1888, Brother Fellows was closely identified with the affairs of the lodge and did more to promote its interests than any other member. He was a true mason in every sense of the word, and in his death the lodge met with an irreparable loss. In 1864 Daniel G. Beede was elected Worshipful Master, and in 1865, 1866, 1867, was succeeded by W. A. Heard, and he, in 1868, by C. C. Fellows. In 1868 the lodge purchased the hall which it has occupied since that time. A few years since a banquet-hall and kitchen were added. In 1869 Dr John Blackmer, who had previously been District Deputy Grand Master, joined this lodge and became its master and was again elected in 1870. Perhaps the lodge has never had a more polished worker than Brother Blackmer. In the death of Elijah Skinner, this year, the lodge lost its first charter member. In 1871 Bro. W. A. Heard was again elected Worshipful Master. Up to this time Brother Fellows had made all the records of the lodge, though other members had been

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secretaries, and probably so good a record with so legible penmanship is rarely found. The next master was James E. French, elected in 1872 and 1873. At this time the treasurer reports the lodge free from debt and a balance of $79 in the treasury. In 1874 Dr Blackmer was again chosen Worshipful Master, and was succeeded in 1875 and 1876 by W. A. Heard. Brother Heard was one of the best masters of the lodge, always presiding with dignity and rendering the work in an acenrate and impressive manner. Subsequently the masters were as follows: 1877, 1878, 1879, 1881, C. C. Fellows ; 1880, A. P. Jaclard; 1882, S. B. Wiggin ; 1883, 1884, Gilman Moulton : 1885, 1886, Wilson D. George ; 1887, 1888, Edwin M. Heard.

At the present Bro. Wilson D. George is the best posted in masonic work of any member of the lodge and delivers the lectures with a solemnity never equaled here. The officers of 1889 are Charles B. Hoyt, W. M .; J. A. Smith, S. W .; Dr E. W. Hodsdon, J. W. The present number of members is fifty ; whole number made masons here, one hundred and seventeen ; number who have joined from other lodges, ten. The lodge meets the Monday evening on or before the full moon, and the annual meeting, at which officers are elected, is the regular meeting in January. . Red Mountain Lodge has resident members in Tamworth, Moultonborough, and Centre Harbor, and others who retain their connection with the parent lodge are scattered in different parts of the country. During our history there has been but one temporary suspension and no expulsion, thus showing not only that harmony and decorum have prevailed to a remarkable degree, but the marvelous strength of the "mystic tie." The masters have with fidelity impressed upon the members the gravity of their moral and masonic obligations, and their duty to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.

Members who have acquired more than merely local fame are Aaron B. Hoyt, Daniel G. Beede, and Alonzo S. Kimball, as educators; Hon. M. H. Marston, as member of governor's council ; W. M. Weed, nineteen years clerk of supreme court and ten years representative to the legislature; Colonel E. Q. Fellows, military officer; Hon. W. A. Heard, clerk of supreme court and national bank examiner; Hon. L. D. Mason, judge of probate; Dr Charles H. White, surgeon of very high standing in the United States navy, now occupying the position of inspector ; Dr George N. French holds a responsible position in United States treasury department; among other members who deserve special mention as having occupied positions of trust and honor are L. G. Clark, Hon. J. E. French, Colonel Oliver H. Marston, Hon. O. G. Hatch, G. W. Wiggin, Esq., G. L. Clark, and Paul Wentworth, Esq.

From the Grand Lodge Report of 1887 : -

Red Mountain Lodge, No. 68, Centre Sandwich. I visited this Lodge at their regular communication in October. The day was fine and the drive delightful. My visit was a

MASONIC AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

surprise to all but the Worshipful Master. The Lodge has not had any work for two years previous, but the Master Mason degree was well rendered, and the lecture and charge given in a very impressive manner. Records are well kept, and finances in good shape. Visiting brethren were present from Centre Harbor, Meredith, and Ashland, among them Right Worshipful Brother Thomas P. Cheney, of Ashland. After work a fine collation was served, and I wish to return my thanks for marked hospitality.

WILLIAM C. SINCLAIR, Grand Lecturer, Sixth Masonie District.

Ossipee Valley Lodge, No. 74, A. F. §. A. M., Centre Ossipee. - [By Henry F. Abbott.] This lodge has an existence of a full quarter of a century, and it seems fitting to now record the chief facts of its history. It derived its life from the following dispensation : -

To whom it may concern : Know ye that I, JJonathan Everett Sargent, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New Hampshire, by the power and authority in me vested by the Grand Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State aforesaid, and upon the petition of a constitutional number of Master Masons, properly vouched, and recommended as in good and regular standing, setting forth that they are desirous of forming a new Lodge, in the County of Carroll and state aforesaid : and whereas there appears to me to be good and sufficient cause for granting the prayer of said petitioners,

Now therefore by virtue of the power in me vested, as aforesaid, I do hereby grant this my dispensation, authorizing and empowering Brother Dearborn Longee to act as W. M. ; Brother Humphrey Scammon to act as S. W .; and Brother John W. Merrow to act as J. W. of a new Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be holden at said Ossipee, to be named and designated as " Ossipee Valley Lodge."

And I do hereby further authorize and empower the above-named Brethren with the necessary assistance and constitutional members to form, open, and hokl Lodges of Entered Apprentices, Fellow Craft, and Master Masons, and therein to Initiate Craft and Raise Candidates to the sublime degree of Master Mason, agreeable to the ancient landmarks of the order and the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire and not otherwise.

And this dispensation shall remain and be in force until the annual communication of said Grand Lodge in June next, unless sooner revoked by me or by order of said Grand Lodge.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Grand Lodge to be affixed at Wentworth this 27th day of October A.L. 5864, A.D. 1864.

L.S.

J. EVERETT SARGENT, Grand Master. HORACE CHASE, Grand Secretary.

The names of the original petitioners were : Sanborn B. Carter, John C. Bickford, John F. Roberts, Edward P. Hodsdon, Lewman G. Moulton, Frank K. Hobbs, Dearborn Lougee, Alvah Moulton, Humphrey Scammon, John W. Mer- row, Joseph Hodgdon, Charles L. Connor, Woodbury B. Sceggel.

It will be the duty of said new Lodge, and they are hereby required, to return this dispensation, with correct transcript of all proceedings had under the authority of the same, together with an attested copy of their by- laws, to our Grand Lodge at its annual communication in June next, for examination, and for such further action in the premises as shall be deemed proper.

J. EVERETT SARGENT, Grand Master.

This lodge was first located at Centre Ossipee, most of the charter members hailing from Charter Oak Lodge. The lodge in its infancy received constant visits from many of the members of other lodges, especially Charter Oak lodge, who rendered them every assistance in their power, giving them such instruc- tions from time to time as the case required.

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It appears by the records that the most frequent visitors were J. W. Dear- born, Josephus L. Drake, A. G. Barker, A. M. Drake, Cyrus K. Moor, S. M. Morse, Charles B. Gafney, Joseph Emerson, and James Cate. These, with others from the same lodge, as well as from Carroll, made up a good company of workers who believed in working while the day lasts, and, judging from the amount of work they performed, their day must have lasted from sun to sun (from sunset until sunrise) and their supper in the morning was often a part of the programme.

At a stated communication of December, 1864, Sanborn B. Carter and Rev. T. V. Haines were chosen to prepare a code of by-laws, which were accepted by the lodge. January 17, 1865, the application of George W. Tebbetts, M.D., a well-known and highly esteemed physician, was received, and also that of Levi F. Smith. They were the first to receive the degrees of masonry in the lodge. Thus the wheel had started and every revolution brought in applications. On the fourteenth of February, 1865, five candidates were elected for the E. A. degree. March 14, six candidates were balloted for and accepted, among them Nathaniel Grant, M.D. He received the E. A. degree, April 11, the degree of F. C., May 16, degree of M. M., August 8, 1865. Though the oldest person who is a member of the lodge, as well as one of the oldest citizens of the town, being 87 years of age, his familiar face is often seen in the lodge-room to wit- ness the work in the different degrees and to partake of such refreshment as may be prepared.

At the April communication of 1865, the applications of four persons were received and placed on file; three of them were rejected on ballot and so declared. May 30, 1865, Sanborn B. Carter was elected to represent the lodge in the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, which was held in Concord the following month, to execute the order of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, as specified in the dispensation previously granted. He did so, and the lodge received its charter, dated June 14, A.D. 1865.

The next three principal officers of the lodge were John W. Merrow, W. M., Joseph Hodgdon, S. W., and Edward P. Hodsdon, J. W. During the hot months of July and August no meetings were held. This was frequently the eustom, to resume work in the fall with renewed vigor. In November, voted to pay a member $30 for an installation supper furnished ; also, voted to have one hundred copies of by-laws printed.

January 2, 1866, agreeable to the by-laws, the lodge elected officers. At the installation of these officers, fourteen members from Charter Oak and several from other lodges were present. Edward P. Hodsdon was installed master, and served as such during 1866 and 1867, doing a large amount of work on the different degrees, many special meetings being necessary to confer the degrees upon the applicants who were accepted.

In 1867 the lodge received the first application of a clergyman for the

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degrees of masonry. It was referred to a committee for investigation. H was rejected on ballot.

At the election of officers in 1868 John C. Bickford was elected master. The lodge enjoyed an unusual degree of prosperity during this year until October 8, when a proclamation was issued by J. W. Dearborn, D. D. G. M., for- bidding them to confer any degrees until matters had been adjusted, the lodge having admitted a candidate who resided beyond the bounds of its jurisdiction, and who had previously been rejected by another lodge. On November 3 an order was received from A. M. Winn, Grand Master of New Hampshire, to notify all members to be present at the stated communication the following month to transact business pertaining to the interest of the lodge. Accordingly they met as requested on the first day of December. Grand Master Winn being present took the chair, and organized a grand lodge for the adjustment of difficulties between this and other lodges; and after a due examination of the facts presented him, and after admonishing the lodge as to its future course, declared it in working order, and directed the W. M. to resume charge.

Jannary 5, 1869, at a regular meeting appropriate resolutions on the death of a charter member, Alvah Moulton, M.D., were read and accepted. On the first day of June, 1869, a special meeting was held to take action in regard to moving the lodge, and after some discussion it was voted to move to West Ossipee ; for reasons which do not appear on record the lodge was never moved. October 9 the lodge voted to procure a hall at Moultonville, a distance of about one mile away, which was done, said hall being over the store formerly owned by L. D. Moulton, now deceased, who was a member of the order.

May 17, 1870, John C. Bickford was reelected master, and served until 1873. Since the institution of the lodge up to this time it had had a good amount of work, but during this year there was only a small amount done. The meetings were regularly held, yet only a small number were in attendance. During 1871 it was evident that the lodge was struggling for an existence against a strong wave of adversity. A few members regularly met until Sep- tember, when their meetings ceased, and until February 18, 1873, none were held. Notwithstanding this sad state of affairs, there remained a little spark of love for the order burning bright in the breasts of some of the members of this once flourishing lodge, and they, desiring to revive it, application was made by John C. Bickford to Nathaniel W. Cumner, Grand Master, when the following dispensation was granted :-

Office of Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New Hampshire,

MANCHESTER, N. H., Jan. 31, 1873.

Whereas, application has been made to me by Worshipful Brother J. C. Bickford for Ossipee Valley Lodge, No. 74, for permission to elect officers : Therefore know ye that I, N. W. Cumner, Grand Master of Frce and Accepted Masons of New Hampshire, grant this my dispensation that Ossipec Valley Lodge, No. 74, may elect their officers agreeable to the usage and custom of the Craft on the eleventh day of February ; due and timely notice of the object of the aforesaid meeting having been given.

Given under my hand this thirty-first day of January, A.L. 5873, A.D. 1873.

NATH. W. CUMNER, Grand Master.

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Agreeable to the foregoing dispensation a meeting was held and Hiram Pray was elected master, and until this day he is called by many of the members " Master Hiram," and the inclemency of the weather does not prevent " Master Hiram " from putting in an appearance at every meeting, being usually the first to arrive.

At the first regular meeting after its revival the lodge received five appli- cations for the degrees. All the candidates were accepted at a subsequent meeting, when two more applications were received : Rev. Joseph P. Frye, pastor of the church at Moultonville, and Oliff C. Moulton, a son of one of the charter members, a promising young lawyer at Ossipee. During this year the lodge seemed to enjoy an unusual degree of prosperity. February 17, 1874, the lodge publicly installed its officers. Hiram Pray was again installed master; he having been previously elected. During this year only a few were added to the members, while several took demits, having moved from within the jurisdiction of this lodge.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 25

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124