USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Morristown > History of Morristown, Vermont > Part 18
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The committee elected by the G. A. R. consisted of Frank Kenfield, A. A. Niles, and Austin Wilkins, who at once started out to raise the required amount. . The G. A. R. raised about $1,400, and the balance of the $4,000 spent for the memorial was secured from townspeople and persons interested in the project.
So efficiently had the committees worked that on May 30, 1911, the semi-centennial of the outbreak of the Civil War, the beautiful memorial was dedicated. It is twenty- five feet six inches high, cut from Barre granite, and is surmounted by a bronze figure twelve feet three inches high. The tablets on the first die bear in relief the names of 172 Morristown Volunteers and of eighty-five members of J. M. Warner Post, No. 4, G. A. R. Nature smiled upon the exercises, and on that bright May afternoon a large gathering of people assembled in Academy Park, where the following program was carried out:
Music Band
Invocation Rev. W. T. Best
Reading of National G. A. R. Order A. A. Niles
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Clifford Chase
Barbara Frietchie Mrs. Ila Niles Jackson
Presentation of the Monument to the Town of
Morristown and to J. M. Warner Post, No. 4,
Prin. W. A. Beebe
Acceptance of Monument for the Grand Army, A. A. Niles Acceptance for the Town Dr. George L. Bates
Dedicatory Ode Chorus (Composed for the occasion by Rev. V. M. Hardy, D. D.)
Address Hon. Frank Plumley, M. C.
Music Band
Remarks
Hon. U. A. Woodbury Hon. H. H. Powers
America Band
While the monument is a credit to all who participated in its erection, it speaks particularly of the interest and artistic ability of Prin. W. A. Beebe, who not only worked untiringly as chairman of the building committee, but designed it and drew the plans from which the contract was let.
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CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THE WORLD WAR VETERANS
On July 4, 1919, the town was the seat of a big cele- bration in honor of the Lamoille County World War Veterans. Though the gathering was held in Morrisville, most of the towns of the county participated in it, thus ensuring its success.
The village was gaily decorated with the national colors and with four honor arches, one over Main Street at The Randall, one on lower Main Street, one on upper Main Street and one on lower Portland Street. The great event of the day was the parade, which started from Waban Avenue, with Major G. L. Bates as chief marshal. The center of interest was the service boys of the county under Capt. Harold J. Fisher, but other interesting features were the floats of the G. A. R. veterans who were repre- sented by forty-six men, the Boy Scouts, the Camp Fire Girls, the Red Cross float and floats of different business houses from here and surrounding towns, with two bands and two drum corps to supply music for the occasion.
In the afternoon excellent sporting events were staged on Main Street and in the evening from eight o'clock until nine a community sing was held. On a platform erected at the foot of Academy Park a chorus of over 300 voices, assisted by the two bands and the Thousand Islands Orchestra, gave a patriotic concert which was enjoyed by a crowd which completely took possession of that part of the village. The event closed with a ball at which, as throughout the day, the veterans were the guests of the town.
It was a perfect July day and evening, and the pro- gram was enjoyed by everyone, but especially by the guests of honor, the boys in khaki, to whom the county thus gladly paid tribute. Other places may have put on a more elaborate welcome, but nowhere was there one more sincere.
PEOPLES ACADEMY ANNIVERSARIES
So secure has been the place held by Peoples Academy in the hearts of the citizens of the town that each mile- stone in its history has been appropriately marked. In 1872 its twenty-fifth anniversary was remembered in con- nection with the completion of the year's work. May 6 was devoted to examinations, conducted by the Rev. Edwin Wheelock, Hon. C. H. Heath and F. M. Baldwin. On Tues- day evening Mr. Heath delivered an address before the
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
alumni, as a result of which an association known as the Associated Alumni of Peoples Academy was formed, with the following officers : President, Charles Heath of Plain- field; First Vice-President, George Waterman of Hyde Park; Second Vice-President, Mrs. P. K. Gleed of Morris- ville; Secretary, A. A. Niles of Morrisville.
This association seems to have been rather ephemeral, for we read nothing of its subsequent activities.
Twenty-five years later the post-prandial exercises at the Alumni Banquet featured the fiftieth anniversary.
But it remained for the seventy-fifth anniversary to call out a fuller expression of loyalty on the part of the alumni, and June 12, 1923, was a gala day in the history of the school and the town.
For months the officers of the Alumni Association, together with a special committee, had been planning to make the celebration worthy of the occasion. The com- mittee on decorations had erected at the foot of Academy Park an arch spanning both Park Street and Main Street, outlined with electric lights and bearing the inscription 1848-1923 and surmounted by a replica of the old belfry and bell. Practically every business place in town and many private residences. were gay with Green and Gold, the school colors, and even the weather man cooperated by giving a pleasant day for the event.
In the forenoon, class picnics at Lake Eden, Elmore, or some other point of interest were in order, but at one o'clock all gathered at Academy Hall for the business meet- ing of the Alumni Association. Following this they marched by classes, headed by Mrs. Maria Tinker of the class of '75, to the Congregational Church, where W. A. Beebe, for twenty-three years the beloved principal of the school gave a scholarly and interesting address.
The banquet was held in the gymnasium which had been artistically decorated for the event, and here about 350 guests sat down by classes to renew old acquaintances, enjoy the fine repast, and listen to the post-prandial exercises.
Hon. R. W. Hulburd, '77, of Hyde Park was toast- master and with inimitable grace and wit introduced R. R. Morrow, principal of the school; Marion Brooks of the class of '23; Hon. H. M. McFarland of Hyde Park, who spoke along reminiscent lines; Dr. R. G. Reynolds of Columbia University, N. Y .; Mary J. Simpson of Crafts- bury; Dr. C. D. Adams of Dartmouth College, and Hon.
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
M. S. Stone of Montpelier, all former principals, who spoke of conditions and experiences during their years of teach- ing here. The program closed with remarks by Justice George M. Powers and the singing of an ode written for the occasion by the Rev. V. M. Hardy, D. D. The event closed with a ball held at the town hall, which was gaily decorated, and contained, among other unusual features, pictures of nearly all the graduating classes of Peoples Academy.
Seven former principals of the school, representing a considerable part of its life time, were present, and the loyalty of its graduates is attested by the fact that New York and all the New England States, except Rhode Island, were represented by graduates, many of whom came for that day only. The generous cooperation of the citizens of the place, many of whom had never been connected with the academy, showed their appreciation of the influence and value of the institution.
WILSON MEMORIAL SERVICE
Although Morristown, like the rest of Vermont, has always been strongly Republican in politics, she appreci- ated the idealism and sacrifice of the great war president, Woodrow Wilson, and on the evening of February 6, 1924, a memorial service was held which was simple but genuine. It was presided over by Major G. L. Bates, who thus honored his former commander-in-chief, and the following program was presented:
Prayer Rev. E. E. Pender
Vocal Solo Mrs. George M. Powers
Address Rev. W. J. McFarlane
Address Rev. George F. Fortier
Song, "Nearer, My God, to Thee" Audience
Taps Harold Ober
Benediction Rev. George F. Morton
The Rev. Mr. McFarlane spoke of the late President's early political career, when, as governor of New Jersey, he surprised both friends and opponents by demonstrating that there was a place for idealism in politics, an attitude which attracted to him the speaker, together with thou- sands of other young men.
Mr. Fortier spoke of Mr. Wilson's larger service to the United States and to the world in his work as presi- dent and as moulder of public thought during and after the World War.
CHAPTER XIII
ORGANIZATIONS, FRATERNAL, PATRIOTIC, AND SOCIAL
W HILE the church was the first organization in town, it antedated but a few years the oldest of the fraternal bodies, the Masons. That Masonry has played a large and honorable part in the life of the town is shown by the men who have been prominent in its work and in the history of the community. Among its members dur- ing the early period were Robert Kimball, the first mer- chant in Morristown; Ralph Tinker, the first doctor; Charles Meigs, the first lawyer; David P. Noyes, the first general merchant in Morrisville; Charles H. Heath and A. J. Blanchard, early principals of Peoples Academy, and since that day its ranks have included the leading business and professional men of the town.
The following history of Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 8, Free and Accepted Masons, gleaned largely from the records of the lodge, was compiled by Willard K. Sand- ers, worshipful master, in 1931-1933.
In the early days, Masonry was not exalted in this section by imposing temples or other beautiful edifices. nevertheless members took their Masonry more seriously then than many do today. When we remember the poor facilities for travel and the meager forms of entertain- ment, it is easy to see why interested members should devote a great deal of time and energy to their Masonic work. Masonry and religion were nearly synonymous. We find that a lodge congregated at ten o'clock in the morning of the date set and many times lasted until late in the evening. It was even customary to have a by-law which made it compulsory to close the lodge at 9:00 P. M. Even with those long hours, it was not unusual to have much unfinished business which had to be held over for the next communication. We find records of Masons driving regularly twenty or thirty miles once a month to attend lodge meetings, and at that time it was an offense punishable by suspension or expulsion, if a member neglected to atttend regular meetings more than three times in succession without reasonable excuse.
Records do not give us the Masonic history of the men who became the charter members of the lodge, but it is probable that they migrated here from the south and formerly belonged to some lodge, either in southern Ver- mont or in the southern New England States.
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
However, in 1812, eight Masons residing in the town of Hyde Park, namely, Thomas Taylor, John McDaniels, Nathaniel Sawyer, Christopher Huntington, Russell Hyde, Joel Burnam, Joseph Waterman, and A. Waterman, Jr., applied to the Grand Lodge of Vermont, and on November 5, 1812, Grand Master John Chipman awarded the follow- ing dispensation, which appears on page one, book one, of the records of Mt. Vernon Lodge: (While under dispen- sation, the lodge was known as Orange Lodge.)
"L. S. To Thomas Taylor, John McDaniels, Nathaniel P. Sawyer, Christopher Huntington, Russell B. Hyde, Joel Burnam, Joseph Waterman, and Araunah Waterman, Jr .:
"In virtue of the power and authority in me vested, I, John Chipman, Grand Master, of the Grand Lodge of the State of Vermont, do authorize and empower you to assemble in due form when a constituted number of you shall convene and open a Master Mason's Lodge at Hyde Park by the name of Orange Lodge and to do and transact all business appertaining to that degree and the lower de- grees until the Monday next preceeding the second Thurs- day of October next.
"And I do hereby constitute and appoint my worthy Brother Thomas Taylor to be Master, Christopher Hunt- ington, Senior Warden, and Araunah Waterman, Jr., Junior Warden thereof and for the purposes herein mentioned this shall be your sufficient Letter of Dispensation.
"In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature and private seal this 5th day of November, Anno Lucis 5812 (1812).
"(Signed) JOHN CHIPMAN, Grand Master"
The records of the first meeting of Orange Lodge are given as follows:
"Orange Lodge convened at Hyde Park, Dec 16th 1812. Present: R. W. Thomas Taylor M.
W. Christopher Huntington, S. W. W. Araunah Waterman Jr, J. W.
Brothers: Nathaniel P Sawyer Joseph Waterman Russell B. Hyde Daniel Griswold
John McDaniels John Griswold Abel Smith Nathaniel Merrill, Visiting brother.
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
"Lodge opened on the first degree of Masonry and pro- ceeded to ballot for Treasurer and Secretary when Nath'] P. Sawyer was chosen Treasurer and Joseph Waterman Secretary.
"Appointments by W. Master Russell B. Hyde Senior D. Daniel Griswold J. D. John McDaniels Steward John Griswold Tyler.
"The ballots were taken for Gamaliel Taylor who was proposed to the Lodge as a candidate for initiation and found clear he was accordingly initiated. Fees $10.00 paid $8.00.
"Lodge opened on second degree of Masonry and passed Brother Abel Smith to the degree of Fellow Craft. Fees $2.00 paid.
"Opened on the third degree of Masonry when Brother Daniel Griswold was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. Fees $3.00
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"Joseph Farrar of Eden was proposed by Bro. C. Hunt- ington as a candidate for initiation at our next regular communication and Bro. Huntington became accountable for the deposit. Bro. Joseph Waterman proposed Joseph Hadley of Hyde Park as a candidate for initiation at the next regular communication and becomes accountable for the deposit. Bro. N. P. Sawyer proposed Jonathan Mer- rill of Sterling as a candidate for initiation and became accountable for the deposit. Bro. John McDaniels pro- posed Jacob P. Hadley for initiation at our next regular communication and paid deposit $2.00.
"Descended and closed on the first degree of Masonry. "JOSEPH WATERMAN, Sec'y."
From the above we note that Orange Lodge's jurisdic- tion covered a great deal of territory since at this first meeting there were proposed candidates from Eden, Hyde Park, and Sterling (later the town of Sterling was divided between Morristown, Johnson, and Stowe). In later records we find candidates from Elmore, Wolcott, Stowe, Johnson, Cambridge, and Kelleyvale (later Lowell) ; also many from Morristown.
Other interesting facts show the difference in Masonic procedure from that of today. At that time the lodge
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
was opened on the first degree of Masonry and the busi- ness of the lodge transacted in that degree, except the exemplification of the higher degrees when the lodge was later opened on the second or third degree. Today, the lodge must do all its business on the third degree and only Master Masons (third degree) are eligible to take part in voting or other business of the lodge. We also learn that the ballot had to be passed for each degree, and it was not at all uncommon for a Mason not to take more than the first or second degree.
The by-laws under which this lodge worked are inter- esting and are found in the front of book one immediately after the copy of the dispensation:
"BY-LAWS OF ORANGE LODGE
"Article 1. This Lodge shall hold their regular com- munication on the Wednesday's preceeding the full of the Moon unless the moon shall full on that day in which case the communication shall be one (illegible) Wednesday at the full of the Moon in each month at one o'clock P. M. except in the month of June and December, and then unless the Lodge should conclude to celebrate the Festivals of the St. Johns, in which case the communication shall be holden on Festival days, the Lodge on such days shall con- vene punctually at 10 o'clock A. M. If the Festival should fall on Saturday or Sunday, the Monday following shall be the regular communications. (Note: There are many lodges who still adhere to this old rule of dating their meet- ings from the full of the moon.)
"2nd. All regular communications and also at all meetings of the Lodge called in cases of emergency it shall be the duty of each member residing within a reasonable distance for attendance, of which distance the Lodge shall judge, to attend punctually at the hour appointed unless prevented by some unavoidable necessity or unavoidable excuse of which the Lodge shall be informed and judge of sufficiency of excuse.
"3rd. The officers of the Lodge shall be chosen at the first regular communication in December annually unless to supply vacancies.
"4th. During Lodge hours every brother shall attend in the Lodge room and not absent himself there- from without the leave of the Master and then not more than five minutes unless from necessity.
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
"5th. Every brother desiring to speak shall arise and address the Master and having obtained leave shall speak during the Master's pleasure.
"6th. No brother shall speak more than once to the same question unless to explain himself nor shall any brother interrupt the brother speaking.
"7th. All questions of order shall be decided by the Master.
"8th. . A candidate for initiation shall be nominated by a Brother Master Mason and at least one regular com- munication previous to that in which the ballots shall be taken on the question of his admission. At the time of his nomination such candidate shall advance two dollars to be put into the treasury. If he withdraw or neglect to pursue his application the money shall be forfeited to the Treasury, if he should be balloted for and not admitted it shall be returned to him but if he be admitted it shall pass to his account as part of initiation fee.
"9th. The Master and Wardens shall be with Secre- tary and Treasurer a standing committee of Charity for this Lodge.
"10th. No member of this Lodge can be absent more than two regular communications unless he assigns reasons satisfactory to the authority of the lodge for such absence and such absence without reasons assigned as aforesaid must be considered as grounds for censure or suspense.
"11th. No brother during hours of business shall in the Lodge room drink spirituous liquor unless by a general order from the Master. (Note: There is a heavy black line drawn around article 11 and underneath it appears the notation "Expunged by unanimous vote".)
"12th. Every brother and member of this Lodge shall behave himself discreetly and orderly in and out of the Lodge so that he may thereby obtain a good report. And if any member shall in or out of the Lodge at a meet- ing of the Lodge or at any other time be guilty of profane swearing ; or drinking spirituous liquors to excess, he shall for the first offense receive a severe reprimand from the Master in open lodge and shall for the second offense be liable to suspension or expulsion. And it shall be the duty of and every member is hereby required to make com- plaint to the Master against any Brother whom he shall know to be guilty of intoxication such complaint may be
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public or by private communication to the Master who shall be permitted to disclose the name of the complainant with- out his consent.
"13th. No brother shall disclose the name of a brother voting against a candidate upon pain of expulsion. "14th. It shall be the duty of the Master and Wardens to examine and decide on the validity of all claims or demands against the Lodge and no account shall be paid by the Treasurer until it has been passed or allowed by them. They shall have power at all times to examine the books of the Secretary and Treasurer to order all fur- niture and clothing as they shall find necessary and to report from time to time to the Lodge such things as they may think proper and sufficiently important. And it shall be their duty to report the state of the Lodge at the first regular communication in December annually.
"15th. When any brother shall desire to remove his relation from this to any other Lodge he shall apply for liberty assigning his reasons and upon his request being granted he shall receive a certificate thereof from the Sec- retary and an entry shall be made on the Lodge Book of his regular dimission.
"16th. Every brother shall sign his name to the By- laws before he shall be permitted to exercise the privileges of a member of this lodge.
"17th. No brother shall be allowed to cast his vote for any candidate for initiation passing and raising until he shall have been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
"18th. The Lodge shall close by nine o'clock in the evening unless unfinished business remains before the lodge or in some case of emergency. And no member shall re- main in the Lodge room more than one hour after the Lodge is closed without being liable to a severe censure from the Master in Open Lodge."
At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in October, 1813, a charter was duly awarded to this lodge and the name changed to Mount Vernon Lodge and regis- tered as Number 36, it being the thirty-sixth lodge char- tered under the Grand Lodge of Vermont. This charter was dated October 12, 1813.
One of the major problems confronting the lodge in its early years was the collection of dues. We are unable
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to discover just how much the dues were at that time, but the earliest allusion to dues some years later is $1.25 per year, and at that period even that sum was much more of a burden than a greater amount would be now. At this period, however, a needy brother was promptly assisted if in distress. We find that in October, 1816, "Voted three dollars from the funds of the Lodge as a donation of Charity to alleviate the distress of sickness of a son of William Whitney of Wolcott." In July, 1817, we find "Proceeded to call Brother G --- - W to answer to a charge preferred against him for un-Masonic Conduct and after a humble confession, was excused from his charge."
Another instance of the munificence of the lodge .appears under date of August 8, 1821: "Voted that after the present dues of this lodge are paid that the sum of fifteen dollars be taken from the funds of this Lodge for F- - S- - to purchase him a cow."
In May, 1822, the lodge received "and read from cer- tain individuals (Mason) at the City of Washington con- cerning the formation of a Grand Lodge of the United States." This was only one of a number of attempts to bring about such an organization, but each attempt has failed since the feeling was that more good could be had by each state operating under its own Grand Lodge rather than being subject to a national organization.
If a brother was expelled the word was broadcast by having the fact published in the "Northern Sentinel" at Burlington.
We now come to an unsavory part of the history of the lodge and of Masonry in general. To understand the situation, we shall have to study facts in other places the more clearly to understand the situation in this lodge during the so-called Anti-Masonic period.
At Batavia, N. Y., there lived a man by name, Wil- liam Morgan, dissolute and shiftless, intemperate in his habits and irresponsible in his obligations, a man shunned by his neighbors and respected by no one. Formerly he came from Canada, where he was in the brewery business, but his plant burned and he drifted into New York State. Masonically, he claimed to have been made a Royal Arch Mason at some former time and there were certain creden- tials to prove it, but it is extremely doubtful if he ever received any of the six preceeding degrees. Through
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HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
some weakness he was admitted to the Royal Arch degree without care being taken to see that he had been invested with those which precede it. He was one of the signers of a petition for a Royal Arch Chapter at Batavia, but owing to his character, the others interested refused to have any- thing to do with him and would not admit him to the new chapter.
This fact, and the influence of unscrupulous friends, influenced him to write an exposé of the degrees and lec- tures pertaining to Freemasonry. Had he been permitted to publish this work unmolested, it would have undoubtedly soon died an early and natural death, but unfortunately several Masons acting without authority of any lodge sought to thwart his attempts with the result that the whole nation was placed in turmoil.
Two attempts were made to burn the printing office where this work was in preparation, both of which were unsuccessful. Soon after this (1826) Morgan was spirited away mysteriously and never seen again. He was traced to Fort Niagara, but no clue could be found of him farther. This was sufficient grounds for the story that he was kid- napped by Masons, taken in a boat into the Niagara River, tied, weighted, and drowned.
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