History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 17

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 17

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A donation of twenty-five dollars was voted to Bro. Annance, January 27, 1867, as he was in indigent circumstances. Annance was an Indian, the only one admitted to this lodge, and was much respected by the crafts- men for his Masonic virtues.

The first public installation (according to the records) took place in the

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town hall, May 5, 1868. The set of silver jewels, now in use, were pro- cured the next December. In June, 1880, Silas Hurlburt, the oldest and a venerated member, disappeared mysteriously while walking near Lan- caster, and, although a reward was offered for tidings of him, and friends searched far and near, "no trace or semblance of him has since been seen among men or Masons." The Masters, from 1852, have been Eliphalet Lyman, two terms; Ephraim Cross, two terms; Charles Baker, one term; Jared I. Williams, two terms; James D. Folsom, two terms; Henry O. Kent, six years; William Burns, one term; B. F. Hunking, five terms; George S. Stockwell, one term; Edward Savage, five terms: Frank D. Peabody, one term; Thomas S. Ellis, two terms; Henry J. Cummings, one term; Charles E. McIntire, three terms; Moses A. Hastings, one term; John H. Smith.

The last return to the Grand Lodge shows that 268 members have been made since 1855, and a membership of 132 in good standing at the date of the report.

On the rolls of this ancient lodge are the names of the ablest, wisest and best citizens, whose influence has been for good in both the commu- nity and in Masonic circles. A spirit of harmony and of zeal has per- vaded its counsels, and it is a power in the land.

Templar Masonry in Northern New Hampshire .- At the commence- ment of the year 1857, there were but two Commanderies of Templar Masons in the state of New Hampshire, viz .: St. John's, at Portsmouth, and Trinity, at Manchester. All others of the old organization had become extinct, and the Grand Commandery had returned its charter to the Grand Encampment of the United States. A few Master Masons of North Star Lodge being desirous of receiving and perpetuating the benefits of Chris- tian Masonry, obtained the honors of Knighthood at Portland, Me., and Manchester, N. H., and uniting with themselves Curtis Cleaveland, an old Sir Knight from Burlington, Vt., who at that time was residing at North- umberland. sent a petition to Hon. William B. Hubbard, then Grand Master of Knights Templar in the United States, asking for a dispensation to organize a Commandery at Lancaster, N. H. On May 8, 1857, a dis- pensation was issued, and on May 11th, the Sir Knights met and organ- ized a Commandery with the following officers: Jared I. Williams, Em. Commander; LaFayette Moore, Generalissimo; George C. Williams, Capt. General. Immediately after organization they conferred the orders of Knighthood upon James A. Smith and James D. Folsom.

At this time there was no Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in this juris- diction nearer than Concord, N. H., and by consent obtained of Blazing Star Chapter, an arrangement was made whereby Haswell Chapter of St. Johnsbury, Vt., could confer the Royal Arch degrees upon candidates from Northern New Hampshire. In this manner the Commandery con- tinued work under its dispensation until November 24, 1859, when it was

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organized under a charter from the United States Encampment as North Star Commandery, No. 3, of New Hampshire. During this time it had increased in membership from eight to fifteen. Under the charter the fol- lowing officers were elected and installed: Jared I. Williams, Em. Com- mander; LaFayette Moore, Generalissimo; George C. Williams. Capt. General; Henry O. Kent, Prelate; John W. Barney, Senior Warden; David A. Burnside, Treasurer; Henry O. Kent, Recorder; James A. Smith, Standard Bearer; Curtis Cleaveland, Sword Bearer; Benjamin F. Hunk- ing, Warder, Alex. Thompson and Danforth Willey, Captains of Guard.

In 1860 North Star assisted in the organization of the Grand Com- mandery of New Hampshire. The same officers were re-elected in 1860- 61-62-63. In December, 1863, the Commandery was free from debt for the first time since its organization. In January, 1864, a change was made in the officers by electing George F. French, Prelate; LaFayette Moore, Recorder: Nathan R. Perkins, Standard Bearer: Jared W. Williams, Sword Bearer; John S. Ockington, Ezra B. Bennet, and Charles L. Plaisted, Captains of Guard.

March, 1864, L. F. Moore having resigned as recorder, D. C. Pinkham was elected his successor. The Commandery added to its numbers two in 1860, eight in 1863, eighteen in 1864, and three in 1865, making thirty one Sir Knights enrolled in its ranks with a loss of one, by the death of Gov- ernor Williams, thus having a membership of forty-five Sir Knights on the 23d of January, 1865, when the following officers were elected and installed : Henry O. Kent, Em. Commander; LaFayette Moore, Generalissimo: George N. Dale, Captain General; Benjamin F. Hunking, S. Warden: T. T. Cush- man, J. Warden; George F. French, Prelate: David A. Burnside, Treas- urer; Daniel C. Pinkham, Recorder; Nathan R. Perkins, Standard Bearer: James D. Folsom, Sword Bearer; Ezra B. Bennett, Warder; John S. Ock- ington, Captain of Guard. In this year there were eleven members added to its rolls, and one lost, by the death of George C. Williams. On January 23, 1866, the old officers were re-elected with a change of John W. Barney, Captain General; George S. Stockwell. Prelate; James A. Smith, Treas- urer. During this year thirteen new members were added to the roster, and one lost by the demit of Rev. E. R. Wilkins.

In 1867 the following changes were made in the offices: Benjamin F. Hunking, Captain General; Alexander Thompson, Treasurer; Edward R. Kent, Warder. During this year twelve Sir Knights were added to the roll. and one lost, by the death of David A. Burnside. In 1868 the same officers were re-elected. This year three were added to the roll, and twelve lost, de- mitted to form St Gerard Commandery at Littleton, N. II. In July, 1868, the Royal Arch Chapter was established at Lancaster. On January 13, 1869, Benjamin F. Hunking was elected Commander, and continued in office until January, 1873. John S. Ockington was elected Recorder at this meeting,

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and continued in this office until his death, May 6, 1884. Three Sir Knights were added to the roll in 1868, four in 1869, one in 1870, and one in 1871, with a loss of one by the death of James W. Abbott, and in 1872 two names were added to the roster.

January 23, 1873, Henry O. Kent was again elected Commander, and continued in office until 1875. In 1872 two were added to the roll, and three lost by demit. In 1874 seven new members were added to the Com- mandery.

On January 23, 1875, Edward R. Kent was elected Commander, and continued in office until January, 1885, a continuous term of ten years, during which period orders of Knighthood were conferred on sixty-four Masons, with a loss from the Commandery roll by death, in 1880, of Dr. Frank Bugbee; in 1882, of Alexander Thompson; in 1883, of Charles L. Griswold; in 1884, of John S. Ockington, and Past Commander Benjamin F. Hunking. In 1881 Dr. B. T. Olcott was lost by demit. In 1885 Thomas S. Ellis was elected Commander, and re-elected in 1886. The honors of Knighthood were conferred on two in 1885, and seven in 1886, with a loss in 1885, by the death of Jared H. Plaisted.

In January, 1887, the following officers were chosen: Moses A. Hast- ings, Em. Commander; Charles A. Cleaveland, Generalissimo; Thomas S. Underwood, Captain General; Nelson Sparks, Prelate; Fielding Smith, S. Warden; Erastus V. Cobleigh, J. Warden; James B. Morrison, Treas- urer; Charles E. McIntire, Recorder; Peter N. Shores, Standard Bearer; Ira E. Woodward, Sword Bearer; Frank Spooner, Warder; Amos F. Rowell, Willie E. Bullard, Ivan W. Quimby, Guards.

In 1886 the Commandery returned a hundred and ten acting members in its report to the Grand Commandery. Included in this number are many of the most influential citizens of Coös, prominent alike in the pro- fessional and business interests of the county.

North Star Chapter, No. 16, R. A. M., Lancaster .- The history of North Star Chapter, No. 16, Royal Arch Masons, is not a very long or eventful one. It was instituted in Lancaster in 1868, the dispensation, signed by Nathaniel W. Cumner, G. H. P., bearing date of July Sth of that year. Dr. George O. Rogers was the prime mover, and it was mainly through his efforts that the chapter was at last successfully and soundly established.

The charter is signed by Daniel R. Marshall, G. H. P., and bears date of June 8, 1869, the following being the names of the charter members: George O. Rogers, Samuel H. LeGro, Ezra B. Bennett, E. V. Cobleigh, J. S. Ockington, Henry O. Kent, Edward Savage, Philo S. Cherry, Rich- ard Hovey, Edward R. Kent, Daniel C. Pinkham.

The first convocation was held under the dispensation July 8, 1868, in the office of Dr. Rogers, corner of Main and Middle streets, now occupied

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by Dr. Wellington, at which were present companions Geo. O. Rogers, H. P .; Samuel H. LeGro, K .; Edward Savage, S. Grand Council named in dispensation J. S. Ockington, H. O. Kent, Daniel Thompson, E. V. Cobleigh, Ezra B. Bennett, E. R. Kent. W. H. N. Prince, Alex. Thomp- son, Philo S. Cherry.

The first annual convocation was held at Masonic Hall, May 19, 1869, at which the following officers were elected: Edward Savage, E. H. P .; Samuel H. LeGro, E. K .; W. H. N. Prince, E. S .; Edward R. Kent, C. H .; Chester B. Jordan, P. S .; Daniel Thompson, R. A. C .; Philo S. Cherry, M. 3d V .: William L. Rowell, M. 2d V .; Abner Thompson, M. 1st V .; John S. Ockington, Treas .; Alexander Thompson, Sect .; Richard Hovey, Tyler; and who were subsequently installed by the M. E. G. H. P., D. R. Marshall. at the special convocation held September 22. At this time the chapter was duly dedicated.

The organization has been for the most part self-sustaining, a system of dues, fifty cents per capita per annum, having been in vogue but a short time, and is now on a solid financial basis, owning one-third part of the Town Hall building, and having a handsome sum in the treasury.

The companions who have served as High Priest, since the chapter was organized, are as follows: Edward Savage, 1870-1-2-3-4; Charles A. Cleaveland, 1875-6-7-8-9-83; Nelson Sparks, 1880-1-2; John H. Smith, 1884-5-6-7: Ivan W. Quimby, 1887, present incumbent.

From the secretary's books we learn that 158 companions have been exalted, and that there are now 119 in good standing, on whom grand chapter dues are paid.

Evening Star Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M., Colebrook .*- The early history of this lodge is somewhat obscure, all the actors therein having passed away, and most of the incidents passed into oblivion. All that remains, which is authentic and reliable, is the few facts which are to be gathered from records and official documents. A thorough research of what remain of these necessarily requires much time and patience, and with all that, the results are meagre, and a source of regret that more full and perfect records were not kept. Sufficient, however, has been obtained to show that its early days were attended by a sharp struggle for exist- ence. To fully realize this, it is necessary to take into consideration that sixty-five years ago, when the lodge was established, what is now North- ern Coös, embracing a territory of nearly 2,000 square miles, was then little better than a dense wilderness, dotted here and there with clearings of its first settlers, which were many miles apart, and that from these were taken the material with which to erect the edifice. Could those old veterans return once more among us. many a tale could they unfold of

* By R. W. Albert Barker.

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how they traveled ten or fifteen miles on foot to attend the meetings of the lodge, and returned the same way "in the wee short hours ayont the twal " of the early morn. But they have passed away, and having no purpose to deal in tradition or speculation, this article will deal with dry fact gleaned from authentic records.

An extract from the proceedings of the M. W. Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, which convened at Concord, June 13, 1821, reads as follows :- "Petition for a new Lodge at Colebrook referred to the committee on new Lodges."

Whether this petition was made to the Grand Master, M. W. Joshua Darling, in the first instance, or directly to the Grand Lodge, or who the petioners were, does not appear; but at the same communication the com- mittee reported: "That a dispensation be granted for a new Lodge at Colebrook, to be called Evening Star Lodge;" which was accepted by vote of the Grand Lodge. The dispensation was granted, but neither that nor the petition appears in the record, though they are probably in the files of the Grand Lodge.

The first record now in the archives of the lodge gives the proceedings of the lodge as follows: -

" Records of Evening Star Lodge, (the first.) At a regular communication of the Evening Star Lodge holden in Colebrook on Wednesday, the 5th day of September A. L., 5821,- Brethren present :-

"Francis Flanders, W. Master pro tem,

" Jeremiah Eames, S. Warden pro tem,

" William M. Smith, J. Warden pro tem.

"Lodge opened by the above brethren. No business before the Lodge. Proceeded to lecture on the first degree. Lecture given by Worshipful Master and brethren. Lodge closed in due form. "DAVID L. ISIIAM, Secretary."

From the above it would seem that the secretary was the only legiti- mate officer present. But from the record of the next meeting (Oct. 10th) it appears that Lewis Loomis was the first Master, Francis Flanders, Sen- ior, and Jeremiah Eames Junior Deacons. At this meeting the petition of Dr. Lyman Lombard was presented and referred, though he was not raised until February 19, 1823. Working under dispensation, they had no by-laws, and it would seem no regular day of meetings. The date of the communications was as follows: September 5, 1821, October 10, 1821, January 30, 1822, March 6, 1822. April 3, 1822, May 1, 1822, and May 30, 1822. May 30, 1822, the lodge voted to "request a letter of dispensation for six months, unless sooner installed," and chose their Master "proxy" in the Grand Lodge. This request for a dispensation was presented to the Grand Lodge at the annual communication, in June, and referred to the committee on new lodges. The committee made a report thereon which was accepted.

The report does not appear. but the result was that on the very next

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day, June 13, 1822, a charter was granted to the petitioners. Lewis Loomis, Francis Flanders, Jeremiah Eames, Jr., and others. constituting them "A regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title and designa- tion of Evening Star Lodge, No. 37." The next meeting of the lodge was holden July 3, when it voted to pay Lewis Loomis, W. M., eight dollars, advanced by him to the Grand Lodge. July 31, the only business done was to pass a vote that the lodge be removed to the house of John Smith. August 28, David L. Isham and Lyman Lombard were chosen a commit- tee to petition the Grand Lodge to "install the Lodge."

The Grand Lodge convened at Colebrook on the fifteenth of October, 1822, when an oration was delivered by Bro. John L. Sheafe, the lodge duly consecrated and the officers installed as follows: Lewis Loomis, W. M .: Jonathan E. Ward, S. W .: Jeremiah Eames, Jr., J. W .: Ebenezer Blossom, S. D .; Ezra B. Rider. J. D .; David L. Isham, Sect. ; Marcena Blod- gett, Treas .: William M. Smith, Tyler. There were twelve Masons present besides the grand officers. Meetings were held regularly until January 22, 1823, when new officers were chosen as follows: Jonathan E. Ward, W. M .; David L. Isham, S. W .; William M. Smith, J. D .: Marcena Blod- gett, Treas : John L. Sheafe, Sect., who were installed March 19. As to the other officers the record is silent. Considerable work was done during the year 1823, especially on the first degree, in which all the business of the lodge would seem to have been done. At the annual meeting in Janu- ary, 1824. the old officers were re-elected, but were not installed until April 16.

June 10, 1824, David L. Isham was granted a demit, he having moved to Connecticut. The records show that he was present at every communi- cation of the lodge from the first in 1821, to April, 1824, when he moved away.

In 1872 a letter was received from the Grand Secretary of Connecticut, stating that he still resided there, upwards of ninety years of age, physi- cally feeble, but in the full possession of his mental faculties, expressing his affection for the lodge he helped to create, was one of its charter mem- bers and its first secretary, a half century previous. There was not at that time a member of the lodge that ever knew him, or had any idea that such a man was ever a member of the lodge, but upon searching the early records of the lodge, they found that his statement was true, and as an appreciation of his fidelity to Masonry and faithfulness to the lodge in its infancy, the lodge voted to send him twenty dollars. The acknow]- edgement of its receipt was profuse in his professions of gratitude and thankfulness for the recognition. It is safe to say that the lodge never parted with a similar sum with greater pleasure to its members, or that was better appreciated by the recipient. He has not been heard from since, but it is more than probable that he now resides in those " mansions

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above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides." His removal was a loss to the lodge of one of its most zealous members.

At the annual meeting in 1825, Ward was re-elected Master, and his death, which occurred June 5, 1825, was another severe blow to the lodge. A special communication was held June 7, to attend his funeral, after which votes were passed to abandon the celebration of St. John's Day, to pay the expenses of the funeral, and that the thanks of the lodge be ten- dered to Rev. C. G. Thatcher for his able discourse delivered at the funeral.

The lodge continued to work, with a small attendance, up to and in- cluding November, 1825, the last entry in the record book being as fol- lows :-

"In December there was not members to open the Lodge on the regular communication day. "LYMAN LOMBARD, Secretary."

If any records were kept in the lodge after this they were lost, but it appears from the records of the Grand Lodge, that the lodge continued to meet for work. and made returns to the Grand Lodge until 1828, and in that year was represented therein by P. M. Lewis Loomis.

The next decade was one of great depression throughout the state and few lodges did any work. A glance at the records of the Grand Lodge at this period will not be uninteresting in this connection. In 1838 the Grand Lodge passed a resolution requesting the Grand Secretary to make a state- ment, showing when each lodge made returns, and report at the next annual meeting. In 1839 the Grand Secretary made a report in accord- ance with the resolution, which showed that twenty-seven of the fifty sub. ordinate lodges, then on the rolls of the Grand Lodge, had done no work for the past eleven years, that is, since 1828. Evening Star was among the twenty-seven. Quite a number of these lodges had made no return for the same length of time. This report was referred to a select committee, who, in 1840, reported a list of twenty-six lodges, including Evening Star, that had neglected to make returns to the Grand Lodge within the time required by the Grand Regulations; whereupon it was, on motion of Bro. Steele :-

"Resolved, That the several Lodges named in the foregoing list, for the causes assigned in said report, be, and they hereby are, stricken from the books of the Grand Lodge, and that the District Deputy Grand Masters be authorized and directed to procure and forward to the Grand Secretary the several charters that have been so declared forfeited and ordered to be stricken from the Lodge books."

Evening Star was in District No. 6, of which, for many years, Jared W. Williams had been District Deputy, but who made no report, and probably visited no lodges, or did any of the duties of the office. This year Eliphalet Lyman was appointed Deputy for the Sixth District. He made his report to the Grand Lodge in 18+1, and the following extract

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therefrom is an important link in the history of Evening Star Lodge. He says :-

"In January last I visited Colebrook, in the county of Coos, where, in June, 5822, Evening Star Lodge. No. 37, was duly installed; could find none of the members. I proceeded on to Stewartstown, where I found the last secretary, who presented me with the records of the Lodge. On examination, I found they had not assembled for business since 1828. I procured their charter and herewith transmit the same to the Grand Secretary."

Thus, twenty years after the lodge was established, its charter was sur- rendered to the Grand Lodge, where it remained dormant for eighteen years. In this condition Evening Star stood not alone. Half the lodges in the state were at that time in the same condition, and quite a number remain so yet. At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in 1844, the following resolution was passed :-

" Resolved, That upon petition to the Grand Master of seven or more Master Masons, in regular standing, requesting the restoration of any charter, which has become void by surrender, or an omission to be represented, or in making their annual returns since June, 1830, the Grand Master is hereby authorized and requested, if he shall deem it expedient, to reinstate any such subordi- nate Lodge under this jurisdiction by directing the Grand Secretary to restore them their charter."

In February, 1859, five members of the lodge, William M. Smith, Seth Tirrell, Jeremiah Eames, Lyman Lombard and David B. Heath, and two members of North Star Lodge, Hazen Bedel and James A. Pitkin, peti- tioned the Grand Master, under the provisions of the above resolution of the Grand Lodge, for a restoration of the charter, and were informed there was yet due from the lodge thirty-five dollars for the charter, which must be paid before it could be restored. The sum was paid, and on the twenty- fourth day of March, 1859, M. W. Grand Master Moses Paul authorized and ordered said brethren to reorganize Evening Star Lodge, No. 37. under its old charter, and restored it to its former rank and standing under the Grand Lodge. On the thirty-first day of March, 1859. the petitioners met at Fling's Hall in Stewartstown, all being present, and chose by ballot Lyman Lombard, W. M .; James A. Pitkin, S. W .; Hazen Bedel, J. W .; and William M. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer; fixed the fees for the sev- eral degrees at seven, three and five dollars: fixed the time of the regular communication at one o'clock P. M., of the Thursday of the week in which the moon fulls, in each month; received the petitious of Oscar Worthley and Hyde C. Trask to be made Masons, and voted that Alba Holmes and John Harriman be proposed to become members of the lodge. On the sixth day of April, 1859, the Grand Master. by dispensation, authorized the lodge to meet at Fling's Hall in Stewartstown for the present. and until a hall could be provided at Colebrook. "provided and conditioned that immedi- ate active measures be immediately taken and prosecuted by said lodge to provide a hall for their accommodation and work, with as little delay as possible at Colebrook aforesaid."

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In accordance with said dispensation the regular communication was holden at Fling's Hall, April 21. Alba Holmes was admitted a member, and Lyman Lombard not being present, Alba Holmes (probably by dispen- sation of the D. D. G. M.) was chosen Master in his stead, and officers were installed by R. W. Jared I. Williams, D. D. G. M., assisted by P. M. Ben- jamin F. Hunking. Worthley and Trask were entered, and by dispensa- tion, passed, and Worthley was raised. Thus the order of the Grand Mas- ter was complied with, and the lodge was fully restored to its former rank and standing, which it has retained ever since. One more communication was held in Fling's Hall when the lodge returned home to Colebrook.

The purpose of this sketch was to trace the history of the lodge only to this point, and here it should end. An interesting chapter of its subse- quent history might and ought to be written for the benefit of those that shall come after us, and it is hoped that some one will set about the task while the few remaining actors of that day remain among us.

It would be doing violence to the feelings of the present members of the lodge, to conclude without paying a tribute to the memory of those early members. From the first establishment of the lodge, though a time of great and general depression in Masonry, though few in numbers, they continued its work for many years, in a very sparsely settled region of country, where its members, or at least some of them, had to travel on foot from seven to ten miles to attend its meetings. After the restoration in 1859, a few of the ancient brethren were for a few years occasionally seen in the lodge, but they have all passed away. Even of the petitioners for restoration, Bro. Hazen Bedel is the only survivor. Let us that remain revere their good qualities and emulate their virtues. Their devotion to Craft Masonry was ardent and enduring. One or two incidents in the life of Bro. William M. Smith may be cited as an illustration of this. In 1828, when the lodge ceased work. he secured the constitution which he safely kept until 1841, when it was surrendered to the Grand Lodge. He was foremost in securing the restoration in 1859, and when it was accom- plished he returned to the lodge its early records. its jewels and all its paraphernalia which he had kept and securely guarded for twenty-one years. No one could be more willing to give or receive instruction than he. Being called by other business to West Stewartstown on two days of each week, for three or four months in the summer of 1859, but not detained by it, his genial companionship was sought. Having just entered the portals of the lodge, and desirous of becoming familiar with the work, by his advice a cipher was obtained, portions of which neither of us could interpret alone. Seeking a retired place, sometimes in the old saw-mill, sometimes "on the brow of the hill," east of the village, or other suit- able place where the approach of cowans or eavesdroppers could be observed. those entire days were spent in its study, and then and there was

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 17

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194