USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 3 > Part 56
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In 1861 the Rhode Island Grand Lodge took important action respecting the ritual and work. The plan, which was presented by Past Grand Master William Field in behalf of a committee, involved the creation of a Grand Lodge of Instruction, "which shall obtain, preserve, and promulgate the work and lectures of Masonry in this jurisdiction, subject only to the M. W. Grand Lodge". The Grand Master and Past Grand Masters were made members of the Lodge of Instruction, with other lower officers as ex officio members. Proper regulations for the Lodge of Instruction were also included in this plan. Although there was opposition to the plan it was finally adopted, and Ariel Ballou was chosen the first Master of the Lodge of Instruction ; William Field, first Senior Warden; James Hutchison, first Junior Warden. A charter was issued to the lodge and accepted January 27, 1862. A period of study of the ritual and perfection of ceremonies followed, and at the January Communication, 1863, the work of the three degrees was exemplified by the Grand Lodge of Instruction, and approved. Thus a standard was fixed for the subor- dinate lodges in the jurisdiction, which, with a single exception, modified their practice to correspond. The Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge, Smithfield, and the brethren under him, refused to depart from what they considered the true standard; but the subsequent arrest of the lodge charter and suspension of the Master, and the reference of the matter to the Grand Lodge of the State, brought about the revocation of the lodge charter, the expulsion of the Master and the suspension of twenty members. The difficulty was prolonged by meetings held clandestinely by some of the suspended brethren, six of whom were thereupon expelled. This extreme action was sufficient to cause the majority of those in error to seek reinstatement, and ten were received back in 1865 and the lodge charter was restored.
This Grand Lodge of Instruction did not long survive, and there was always some doubt as to its utility. In 1867 its membership was reduced to seven, but this change was ineffective and it soon passed out of existence.
In 1865 a new constitution was adopted in the Grand Lodge, but the changes were few and not of great importance. In 1870 there were twenty-five lodges doing active work in the State, as described further on, with a total membership of 3,215, or more than twice the number in 1860. There were also found throughout the jurisdiction many changes in the way of improved facilities for work, increased
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resources, and a far more benignant and sympathetie state of publie feeling towards the Fraternity.
Since 1870 and down to the present the Rhode Island Grand Lodge, and the Order at large through the State, have maintained a satis- factory ratio of advancement in all directions. Resourees, influenee, stability, respect and confidence of the publie, all have shown substan- tial gain throughout the jurisdiction. Numerically the gains from 1870 to 1880, and in the suceeeding deeade, were not equal to those from 1860 to 1870; but the increase from 1880 to 1890 was eonsider- able and included most exeellent material. At the celebration of the Centennial of the Grand Lodge, in 1891, there were thirty-six working lodges in the jurisdiction, with a total membership of 4,177 ; the whole number of Masons in the State at that time was reported as 4,275. What Cheer Lodge, Providenee, had the largest membership-397, and four others had more than 200 each. During the last twenty years there have been organized and constituted ten new lodges, all of which will be presently notieed. All of the lodges in the State are numbered consecutively, excepting that St. John's in Providenee and St. John's in Newport each bear the number 1, and that the numbers 17 and 19 do not appear, the lodges originally bearing those numbers having ceased their existenee in 1849, as before described. The con- stituting of these many lodges has usually been made an oeeasion of Masonic interest and instruction.
In 1889 a new Monitor made its appearanee, after it had been in contemplation more than ten years. Its final completion was due mainly to a committee appointed in 1883 by the Grand Master, whieli consisted of Nicholas Van Slyck, Thomas A. Doyle, Newton D. Arnold, George M. Carpenter, Henry W. Rugg, E. L. Freeman, and David S. Baker, jr.
It is impossible within the limits prescribed for this work to notiec in detail the many events of importanee in which the Fraternity have offieiated in this State. Among them are the dedieation, on October 11, 1869, of the new Masonic Hall in Westerly, which was one of the largest demonstrations ever made by this Fraternity in Rhode Island. On June 24, 1870, many craftsmen from all parts of the jurisdiction, with offieers high in Masonry, participated in laying the corner stone of the soldiers monument in Providence. The Anniversary of St. John the Baptist's Day, of 1875, was celebrated by the Masons of the State in connection with laying the corner stone of the new City Hall in Providence, when very interesting ceremonies took place.
On May 15, 1876, the corner stone of the Providenee County Court House was laid by Grand Master Van Slyek, assisted by offieers of the Grand Lodge. The procession was composed wholly of Master Masons. Gov. Henry Lippitt delivered a short address, followed by a eulogy on Masonry by Rev. Bro. W. N. Aekley and an oration by Bro. John H.
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Stiness, one of the Supreme Court judges of the State. The dedica- tion of the Roger Williams Monument in Providence, on October 16, 1877, was under direction of the Grand Lodge, and was a very interesting and numerously attended occasion. The laying of the corner stone of the Burnside Memorial Hall at Bristol on September 25, 1883, was under charge of the Fraternity, and on the 1st of Sep- tember, 1885, the Grand Lodge convened in Newport to place the foundation stone of the statue erected in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the distinguished commodore of the United States navy.
An event of still greater importance, at least to Masons in the State, was the dedication, on February 3, 1886, of Freemasons Hall, Provi- dence. The old quarters of the Craft in the old city building in Market Square, and later, after 1853, in the hall provided in the What Cheer Building, had long been outgrown. In 1870 the subject of erecting a building was brought before the Grand Lodge by Grand Master Thomas A. Doyle, resulting in the passage by the Legislature of an act authorizing the Grand Lodge to build a temple in Providence. But the Fraternity was not yet ready for the important undertaking. In February, 1882, a committee took up the subject and made a report in favor of forming a company to purchase the Roger Williams Bank estate, adjoining the What Cheer Building, and reconstruct the building thereon. While this recommendation was not fully carried out, the Freemasons Hall Company was organized, a charter was granted, and on June 28, 1883, the company was formally organized and officers chosen : President, Darius B. Davis; vice-president, Nicholas Van Slyck ; treasurer, Frederick M. Ballou; secretary, Edwin Baker, with an auditor and a board of fifteen directors; capital $100,000, all paid in. After due consideration a lot was purchased on Dorrance, Pine, and Eddy streets, and there a beautiful temple was erected. The corner stone was laid by the Grand Lodge on June 7, 1884, with elaborate and imposing ceremonies, in which a great num- ber of the Fraternity from all parts of the State took part, as well as a vast crowd of the general public, and on February 3, 1886, the completed building was dedicated to Masonic uses by Lyman Klapp, esq., M. W. Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island. In this building all the Masonic societies in Providence save one were domi- ciled and continued in the occupation thereof until March 19, 1896, when a fire, supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, totally destroyed the buildings and its contents, among which were priceless relics, some of which had been in possession of the Fraternity more than a century and a quarter, the loss of which is irreparable-por- traits, arms, Grand Lodge and other libraries, banners, etc., but no records were lost. After this disaster the societies met in Hodges Hall, on Weybosset Street, and the Freemasons Hall Company at once took measures to rebuild. Upon the completion of the new build-
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ing which the company had erected on the site of that destroyed, the bodies at once entered it, and it is now their place of assembly. The first meeting in the new building was held May 2, 1898.
On June 24, 1887, a Festival Communication was held in Warren in connection with placing the foundation stone of the George Hail Frce Library Building, and on September 24 of that year the Grand Lodge held a special Communieation at Barrington and laid the corner stone of the new town hall. On August 10, 1888, the Grand Lodge laid the corner stone of a new town hall in East Providence, with the customary ceremonies. On September 23, 1889, the foundation stone of a Jewish synagogue, in Providence, was laid under direction of the Grand Lodge.
Upon the death of that distinguished citizen and Mason, Hon. Thomas A. Doyle, the funeral ceremonies were conducted by the Fra- ternity on June 14, 1886, and were made deeply impressive. Three years later, on the 3d of June, 1889, there was a great assemblage of people from all parts of the State, gathered into an imposing proees- sion in the streets of Providence, to take part in the dedication of the grand and impressive monument to the memory of this eminent citizen.
All of these events, important as they were in various phases, were far overshadowed by the grand Centennial Celebration of the Rhode Island Grand Lodge held June 23 and 24, 1891.1 The subject had been held under consideration during two years and had its formal beginning in the meeting of a committee on November 16, 1889, where the committee was organized by the ehoiee of Past Grand Master Van Slyck as chairman, and Grand Secretary Edwin Baker as secretary. This committee submitted a report to the Grand Lodge favoring the proper celebration of the event, and the Grand Lodge ordered the com- mittee continued with instructions to carry out the recommendations in their report. Another report was made to the Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication, May 19, 1890, suggesting the date as finally fixed, and suggesting also, an addition to the committee. The Grand Master subsequently appointed thirty-three additional members, one from each lodge, and seven members at large. This large committee was ealled together on January 28, 1891, in Free- masons Hall, Providence. Sub-committees on various features of the celebration were afterwards appointed. A plan of celebration was formulated as follows :
"June 23d, Evening. The Grand Master will give a reception to the ladies and brethren at Freemasons Hall, Providenee. Promenade Music and Refreshments to be paid for from the General Fund. Admission by Card.
1For full history of this event see "Freemasonry in Rhode Island," Part IV, pp. 604-716.
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"June 24th, Morning. Grand Master Masons Procession in Lodge formation, escorting the Grand Lodge to some hall where the Literary Exercises will be held, consisting of an Oration, and Historical Sketch by Rev. Henry W. Rugg, a Poem and Music, followed by a Collation to be arranged for according to the convenience of the several Lodges.
"The committee are unanimous in their opinion that the clothing to be worn on parade should be black or dark clothes, black silk hat, white gloves and Apron.
"June 24th, Evening. Grand Lodge Banquet with speeches and music at some place to be hereafter chosen. The dinner will be paid for by the sale of tickets. First, to Grand Lodge members, and after to such brethren as desire."
From this time forward all of the details of this interesting event were perfected and carried out in the most successful manner until the final incident was closed. A beautiful steel engraved invitation was sent out, with several bulletins of instructions. The formal reception to Grand Master George H. Kenyon was held in St. John's Hall, and in response to the 8,400 invitations to attend, over 4,000 acceptances were received.
At the opening of the Festival Communication on June 24, the Standing Committee on Credentials reported that there were present 282 members or their proxies, thirty-four lodges being represented. The literary exercises were held in Infantry Hall. The grand proces- sion consisted of three divisions, in the first of which were 587 brethren; in the second, 1,025, and in the third, 74-a total of 1,686 bretlıren.
At Infantry Hall Grand Chaplain Rev. H. W. Rugg, D. D., opened the exercises with prayer, which was followed by an address of welcome by Grand Master Kenyon. After Dr. Rugg's masterly his- torical sketch had been read a Centennial Oration was delivered by Rev. Edwin C. Bolles, D. D. The banquet was very largely attended, and the succeeding toasts, under the direction of Toastmaster Nicholas Van Slyck, were productive of the utmost interest and good cheer. Altogether it was an event in Rhode Island Masonry the memory of which cannot be obliterated.
The lodge constituted next after What Cheer of Providence, was Eureka Lodge No. 22, Portsmouth, for which the dispensation was granted August 28, 1860. The charter was granted and dated Feb- ruary 25, 1861, and the lodge was duly constituted on the 24th of June following; it was incorporated in January, 1871. At the same time a new hall was dedicated. The first Master was George W. Cheevers, who held the office until 1864, when he was succeeded by Benjamin Tallman.
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Charity Lodge No. 23, Hope Valley, was constituted November 9, 1866, under dispensation granted November 27, 1865, and a eharter granted and dated May 21, 1866. The lodge was ineorporated in Jan- uary, 1869. The first Master was John F. Jencks. A new hall was fitted up and dedicated Dceember 10, 1867. In February, 1878, a still more fitting hall was occupied in the second story of a new building ereeted by Bro. G. E. Greene.
Jenks Lodge No. 24, Central Falls, was constituted January 25, 1867, under dispensation granted May 1, 1866, and charter granted and dated November 19, 1866; it was ineorporated in January, 1875. The petition for the dispensation bore the names of thirty-eight brethren. After five prosperous years of work in the Elm Street Masonic Temple, the lodge entered its new home on January 6, 1875. The first Master was Horace Daniels.
A dispensation for Hope Lodge No. 25, Wakefield, was granted January 21, 1867, and a charter was dated and granted May 20, 1867. The lodge was constituted November 20, 1867, and incorporated in January, 1871. The new hall secured for the lodge was dedieated March 14, 1872. This was burned and the lodge property lost on April 10, 1880. After occupying the hall of Columbia Lodge of Odd Fellows until October, 1881, a new hall was fitted up. In 1890 the lodge purchased the Odd Fellows Hall building, thus plaeing itself in possession of revenue producing property and securing a better home. John C. Hazard was the first Master of this lodge.
Granite Lodge No. 26, Harrisville, was organized under dispensation granted August 22, 1867. The charter was granted and dated May 18, 1868, and the lodge was publicly constituted January 28, 1870; it was incorporated in May 1873. The first Master was Andrew K. Ballou. Temporary quarters were occupied until January 28, 1870, when a new hall was appropriately dedicated.
A dispensation was granted on February 8, 1868, for Corinthian Lodge No. 27, Providenee, and the charter was dated and granted May 18, 1868. The lodge was publicly constituted October 27, 1868, and incorporated in January, 1869. This prosperous lodge was formed partly as a means of reducing the large membership of the older Providence organizations, in order to effeet a better condition of Masonic social intercourse and acquaintanec. Fees were fixed at $100 for the degrees and $50 for membership. By-laws were adopted May 11, 1868. As soon as the new lodge was constituted the accumulation of a charity fund was begun, which has remained to the present time one of the prominent purposes of the lodge. Meet- ings were held in the committee room in Mason's Hall until November, 1874, when room No. 10, in What Cheer building, was leased and fitted up at a cost of about $1,000. Here the lodge had its home until the occupation of Freemasons Hall. In July, 1883, the lodge
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subscribed for twenty shares of stock in the Freemasons Hall Com- pany. Under the revised by-laws, adopted in 1889, dues are no longer imposed upon the members. Henry C. Field was Master U. D., and was succeeded in 1869 by Clinton D. Sellew.
A dispensation for Ionic Lodge No. 28, Greene, was granted Jan- uary 15, 1870, and the charter was granted and dated May 16, 1870. The lodge was constituted January 17, 1871. The petition for dis- pensation was signed by sixteen brethren of the western part of Kent county, nearly all of whom were members of Manchester Lodge. Commodious rooms were dedicated to the use of the lodge on Septem- ber 28, 1886. Whipple V. Phillips was the first Master.
Barney Merry Lodge No. 29, Pawtucket, was constituted June 26, 1873, under dispensation granted July 29, 1872, and charter granted and dated May 19, 1873. The name was taken in honor of an early and prominent member of the Fraternity. The lodge was formed largely of former members of Union Lodge No. 10, which had a very large membership at that time. The first Master was Edwin Clapp, a member of the Rhode Island bar. This lodge imposes no dues on its members and is in every way a prosperous organization.
A dispensation was granted July 4, 1874, for Rising Sun Lodge No. 30, East Providence, and the charter was granted and dated May 17, 1875. The lodge was duly constituted July 3, 1875, and incor- porated in January, 1876. The dispensation asked that Bro. George N. Bliss should be appointed the first Master. The lodge has always held its meetings in Freemasons Hall, where it has a well-furnished home, and steady prosperity has attended its work.
Atlantic Lodge No. 31, New Shoreham, was organized under dis- pensation granted November 30, 1875; the charter was dated and granted May 15, 1876, and the lodge was publicly constituted August 9, 1876; it was incorporated in January, 1894. The first Master was John W. Hooper, who held the office until 1879. The petition for dispensation bore twenty-four signatures. The hall of Neptune Lodge, I. O. O. F., was occupied by the new lodge until 1890. On the 26th of August, of that year, a hall in a building erected for Masonic uses was dedicated. Considering its somewhat isolated situa- tion the lodge has had a fair degree of prosperity.
On January 27, 1876, a dispensation was granted for Roger Williams Lodge No. 32, at Centerdale. A charter was granted and dated May 15, 1876, and the lodge was duly constituted May 27, 1876. Thomas Wilmarth was the first Master. The lodge is prosperous and zealous in its Masonic work.
In 1876 another lodge was added to the number in existence in Providence. A dispensation was granted February 5, of that year, for Adelphoi Lodge No. 33, for which a charter was granted and dated May 15, 1876. The new lodge was publicly constituted June 12,
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1876. This organization has received among its members and friends the designation, a "family lodge", in which the members endeavored to more firmly bind the social ties than was possible in a lodge of very large membership. There were eighteen members at the time of organization, a number which has increased to about fifty. The first Master was Stillman White, who was succeeded in 1879 by Henry A. Chace.
Unity Lodge No. 34, Lonsdale, was constituted under dispensation granted February 16, 1878, and a charter granted and dated May 20, 1878; it was publicly constituted June 15, of the same year. Nathaniel B. Kerr was the first Master. Freemasonry seems to have not received a high degree of favor in the vicinity of Lonsdale until a compara- tively recent period. In 1864 there were, as far as known, only two members of the Order in Lonsdale; but between that date and 1878 there was a decided change in this respect, about forty persons having become members during that period. The formation of the Lonsdale Masonic Relief Association led to the organization of a new lodge. The Association for a time occupied rooms in a building formerly used for a school house. The work of the Association was most commend- able, but it was discontinued in 1877 and a similar organization was established at Valley Falls, which is still in active existence. The
Lonsdale brethren continued to meet, and finally, at a gathering on February 9, 1878, a board of officers was nominated and steps taken to form a lodge. Forty-two Masons signed the petition for dispensa- tion. Soon after its organization the family gatherings, for which the lodge is locally famous, were instituted and have been continued with great interest and profit. In all phases of Masonic work this lodge has been and is most prosperous.
In 1878 lodges received another accession in Redwood Lodge No. 35, Providence, for which a dispensation was granted February 22, of that year. The charter was granted and dated May 20, 1878, and the lodge was publicly constituted on June 10 following; it was incorporated in January, 1881. Redwood Lodge was the outgrowth of a desire felt by Israelitish Masons in the city for an organization consisting largely of members of that faith. The Grand Lodge voted that Redwood Lodge should have concurrent jurisdiction with St. John's Lodge No. 1, Mount Vernon Lodge No. 4, What Cheer Lodge No. 21, Corin- thian Lodge No. 27, and Adelphoi Lodge No. 33 in Providence, and Rising Sun Lodge in East Providence. Myer Noot was the first Master.
Still another was added to the list of Providence lodges by the constitution, on May 12, 1880, of Orpheus Lodge No. 36, under dis- pensation granted April 28, 1879, and a charter granted and dated May 19, 1879. The lodge was incorporated in May, 1892. This is the so-called "musical lodge" of the city, as might be inferred from its appropriate name. During the years of its existence it has supplied
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most of the vocal music of the Grand Lodge of the State on many occasions. The lodge is the outgrowth of a musical society of the city composed of five young men who met together in the winter of 1860-61 for mutual improvement. They were George B. Chace (pianist and director), Thomas P. Fenner, Herman Decker, Eli Smith, and Edwin Baker. Their success and enjoyment were such that the work was renewed in the next winter on a larger scale, and on November 13, 1861, the Orpheus Club was formed with seventeen members. The first and only president was Edwin Baker. The number of members in- creased and the club soon occupied a high position in musical circles. Concerts, soirees and other entertainments followed from year to year, and the club was called upon to sing at many public meetings and ceremonies. After 1869 the character of the club gradually changed although it sang occasionally on important public occasions. In November, 1872, the by-laws were so changed that only Master Masons in good standing could thereafter be admitted to membership; at the same time the non-Masonic members resigned, and thus the path was opened for the formation of a Masonic lodge. William Russell Greene was the first Master under the charter. The lodge membership has been kept small and great care has been exercised in admission of new members. Since it was constituted the lodge has sung on several important public occasions, among them the laying of the corner stone of the town hall in Warren, laying the corner stone of Masonic Hall, Block Island, laying the corner stone of East Providence town hall, etc.
A dispensation was granted on March 4, 1880, for Nestell Lodge No. 37, Providence, the last lodge constituted in the city. The charter was granted and dated May 17, 1880, and the lodge was duly con- stituted September 30, 1880; it was incorporated in May, 1881. The early membership of this lodge were either affiliated with, or held membership in, other jurisdictions than Rhode Island and covering a very wide extent of territory. Most of them were not conversant with the work of Freemasonry and knew little of Rhode Island practice in the Order. For this reason the formation of the lodge was long under discussion before practical results were obtained. The first meeting under authority was held in Scottish Rite Hall, on March 8, 1880, where Rt. Wor. Edwin Baker read the dispensation and organization was effected; Joseph Baker was chosen Master. From that time to the present the lodge has gone forward in a prosperous career.
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