CHAPTER XIX
Administrations of Paul L. Powers (1954 and 1955), Aubrey L. Burbank (1956 and 1957), John M. Littlefield (1958 and 1959), and Leon M. Sanborn (1960 and 1961). The Bi-Centennial of Freemasonry in Maine, 1962.
The years from 1954 to 1962 were years of great Masonic activity and accomplishment in Maine. Many new and important programs were inaugurated, old programs were re-activated, and much important legislation was enacted. Two new lodges were established, many new Temples were dedicated, and many significant anniversaries were observed, including the bi-centennial of Portland Lodge, No. 1, in 1962.
Throughout this period, ritualistic instruction was in good hands. R. W. Raymond M. Rideout, Sr., served as Grand Lecturer from 1954 to 1958, when he was succeeded by M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank. Both of these brethren were accomplished scholars as well as fine ritualists, and their schools of instruction were particularly effective and inspirational. All degree teams were brought under the supervision and control of the Grand Lecturer.
Unfortunately, there are always a few misguided and moronic brethren who would destroy the solemnity and impressiveness of our degrees by the introduction of levity, horse-play and excessive roughness into the work. In 1954 Grand Master Paul L. Powers issued a strong directive against such abuses, which he ordered every Master to read in open lodge before each conferral of the second section of the Master Mason degree. This Maine edict on dignity and decorum was widely quoted and copied in other Jurisdictions. Certain minor innovations, borrowed from the work of other Jurisdictions, had crept into the work of certain lodges. These were eliminated by Grand Lodge vote in 1957.
The period covered by this chapter saw a gradual decline in the size of our annual membership gains. A final high point in membership figures, 47,964, was recorded in 1959. A small loss was reported in 1960, a slight gain in 1961, and another small loss in 1962. The reasons for this trend will be fully discussed in the next chapter.
Paul L. Powers Sixty-sixth Grand Master
M. W. Paul L. Powers, an attorney-at-law and Municipal Judge, succeeded to the Grand Mastership in 1954. Dynamic, vigorous and aggressive, he accomplished much. He worked hard at being Grand Master, and he made his officers and committees work hard at their respective jobs. He got things done. He was active in the work of visitation. He witnessed the dedication of the new Masonic Temple in Havana, Cuba, and he attended the great centennial observance of the Grand Lodge of Canada, in the Province of Ontario, one of the most impressive Masonic functions ever held on the North American Continent. He wrote a message to the Craft, which was published as an "Occasional Bulletin" and distributed to our entire membership. He held official District Meetings in all twenty-four Districts, at which he presented his program to the brethren.
Standing Regulation No. 2 requires that every Maine lodge write its history and submit the same to Grand Lodge, and that such histories be brought up to date every ten years. Many of our lodges had loyally complied with this regulation, but many others had, for one reason or another, become sadly delinquent. Bro. Powers set out to correct this state of affairs. Lodges were ordered to submit their histories before a given date, or explain their reasons for non-compliance. The Grand Lodge Committee on History, headed by R. W. George R. Caswell, offered every assistance to the lodges. As a result, a great number of histories were submitted.
Acting upon the suggestion made by M. W. Bro. Ela, a Maine Masonic Blood Bank was established. R. W. Elmer S. Doe served as General Chairman of this project. Chairmen were also named in each District and in every lodge. An educational program was conducted, explaining the program to the brethren. The response was excellent, for the program caught the fancy of our members. There can be no more intimate or personal manifestation of brotherly love and real Masonic charity than the giving of one's own blood to save the life of a Brother Mason or a member of his family. In this administration, a total of 1,007 pints of blood were donated. Those brethren living near one of the co-operating hospitals could make their donations to a genuine "blood bank", which could be drawn upon as needed. In lodges remote from these hospitals, "walking blood banks" were organized, with prospective donors listed according to their blood types and subject to call when an emergency arose.
The great success of the Masters and Wardens Association organized by R. W. Norman W. Lindquist in the 17th Masonic District led M. W. Bro. Powers to make the establishment of such associations in every District one of the major projects of his administration. With his encouragement, such associations were formed throughout the State, and soon demonstrated their value and usefulness. The Grand Master also encouraged the formation of Past Masters Associations in the several Districts.
Grand Master Powers appointed a special Committee on Masonic Education, charged with making a general survey of our educational needs, and, in particular, with the preparation of a Maine program of non-ritualistic candidate instruction. Such a program was evolved, and was placed in operation by M. W. Bro. Powers in November of 1954. This program is based on four candidate booklets, written by the Committee Chairman, M. W. Ralph J. Pollard. The first of these booklets is presented to the accepted candidate prior to his initiation, the others after his reception of each degree. These booklets are furnished free by the Grand Lodge, and their use in <sic> mandatory. It is the intent of the program that these booklets be studied under the supervision of a qualified local instructor, appointed by the Master of each lodge. It is also the intent of this program that each Master appoint a so-called "Elder Brother" for each newly-raised member. This may well be one of those signing his petition, a blood relative, a close friend, a near neighbor, or a fellow employee or business associate. It is the duty of the "Elder Brother" to assist the new member in becoming thoroughly at home in his lodge, and in developing good habits of interest and attendance during his first vital year of membership. This program was enthusiastically received by the lodges. The first edition of the booklets was exhausted in a few months time, and a second edition was printed. Unknown to the Chairman, the Grand Master and other Committee Members officially designated this program as "The Pollard Plan". Under the auspices of this Committee, our Speakers Bureau was again re-activated, and a list of available speakers was furnished to the lodges.
Our Grand Lodge Library has long been a source of pride to all Maine Masons. Until now, however, no complete and scientific catalogue of its contents had ever been made. M. W. Bro. Powers directed that such a catalogue be prepared. This project was carried out under the supervision of R. W. Earle D. Webster, our Grand Lodge Librarian. Bro. Powers also caused an accurate inventory of all Grand Lodge property to be made. On his recomendation, new modern equipment for the Grand Secretary's office was purchased.
Many of our brethren had served their country in time of war, and were, in consequence, entitled to military funeral honors. As the Masonic funeral service must be the final one, and as that service contained no provision for military participation, such brethren or their families were often forced to choose between military and Masonic funeral services. A special committee was appointed to study this question. This committee, headed by Wor. and Rev. M. Gerry Plummer, Grand Chaplain, came up with a simple and workable solution, which was adopted by Grand Lodge. At the graveside services, just before the final committal prayer, the presiding Master simply announces that, as our departed brother was entitled to military funeral honors, such honors would now be rendered by a specified military unit or veterans organization. Upon the completion of such honors, the committal prayer is said.
Grand Master Powers was active in promoting the Order of DeMolay in Maine. Legislation was adopted permitting our Maine lodges to sponsor chapters of this great organization for boys.
Our Maine Veterans Medal is a treasured token, but is only suited for wear in a Masonic lodge. In 1955, Grand Lodge also adopted a fifty-year lapel button suitable for ordinary street wear, which is automatically presented to all holders of the Maine Veterans Medal. At the same communication, a new Grand Lodge decoration was established. Known as the Simon Greenleaf Medal, this award is made for meritorious service beyond the ordinary call of duty. The Grand Master is authorized to present two of these medals each year. Brethren who have held elective Grand Lodge office are not eligible for this award.
Grand Master Powers presided over five special communications of Grand Lodge. The new Masonic Temples of Pleasant River Lodge, No. 163, Brownville, Ralph J. Pollard Lodge, No. 217, Orrington, Cornerstone Lodge, No. 216, Portland, and Orchard Lodge, No. 215, Old Orchard, were dedicated. The great Masonic Temple in Bangor, the home of Rising Virtue Lodge, No. 10, and St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 83, which had undergone extensive reconstruction and renovation, was rededicated to Masonic use.
Our Grand Lodge suffered another great loss when Past Grand Master Benjamin L. Hadley passed away on December 28, 1955. The Grand Master attended his funeral in Bar Harbor, and eight Past Grand Masters served as honorary pall bearers. His memorial in Grand Lodge was presented by M. W. Charles E. Crossland.
Oriental Lodge, No. 13, Bridgton, Solar Lodge, No. 14, Bath, Orient Lodge, No. 15, Thomaston, and St. George Lodge, No. 16, Warren, held sesquicentennial celebrations. The original Bath observance was "rained out" by a hurricane but the re-scheduled meeting was attended by 700 brethren.
The Grand Master assisted Pioneer Lodge, No. 72, Ashland, Bristol Lodge, No. 74, Bristol, Rockland Lodge, No. 79, Rockland, Keystone Lodge, No. 80, Solon, Atlantic Lodge, No. 81, Portland, and Eureka Lodge, No. 84, Tenant's Harbor, in celebrating their centennials. Granite Lodge, No. 182, West Paris, observed its 75th anniversary.
M. W. Leslie F. Murch, Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire, paid a "homecoming" visit to Marsh River Lodge, No. 102, Brooks, in which he had been raised many years before. Much to his surprise, he found most of his own Grand Lodge officers and many from the Grand Lodge of Maine in attendance at this meeting.
Grand Master Powers had the great pleasure of presenting our Drummond Medal to two outsanding Freemasons from outside our State. In 1955, M. W. Carl H. Claudy, distinguished Masonic author, Past Grand Master in the District of Columbia, and Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association, was the recipient of this award. In 1956, the medal was conferred upon Bro. Frank S. Land, the distinguished founder of the Order of DeMolay.
A constitutional amendment making regular servicemen stationed at military installations in this State eligible to petition our lodges for the degrees upon completing the usual residence requirement was adopted in 1956.
At our 1956 communication, our distinguished and beloved Grand Secretary, R. W. Convers E. Leach, retired after having served our Grand Lodge as an officer for no less than fifty-five years, the last twenty-five years of this service being as Grand Secretary. He was elected Grand Secretary Emeritus, ad vitam. R. W. Earle D. Webster, who had served for many years as Bro. Leach's assistant, was elected Grand Secretary.
At the beginning of this administration, in 1954, M. W. Charles E. Crossland became Chairman of the highly important Committee on Distribution, the agency actually responsible for the disbursement of Grand Lodge Charity in Maine. He soon won the confidence and respect of the brethren for the efficient manner in which he handled this delicate and often difficult responsibility.
Fraternal recognition was extended to the Grand Lodge of Vienna for Austria in 1955. The next year, such recognition was denied to the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic and to the Grand Lodge Valle de Mexico. Neither of these bodies was recognized by the British Grand Lodges, both of them were in fraternal relationship with clandestine and unmasonic groups, and the Mexican applicant had recently engaged in highly improper political activity. The Foreword to our 1956 Correspondence Report contained a full statement of the foreign policy of our Grand Lodge.
On November 30, 1954, M. W. Bro. Powers had granted a dispensation for the establishment of a new lodge in the North Deering section of Portland. Known as Brotherhood Lodge, U.D., this body shared the quarters occupied by Cornerstone Lodge, No. 216. At our Grand Lodge communication in 1956, a charter was voted to this new lodge.
Aubrey L. Burbank Sixty-seventh Grand Master
M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank, a Minister of the Gospel in the Methodist Church, became Grand Master in 1956. Well known throughout the State by his efficient service as Grand Lecturer and universally beloved by his Brethren, he had a happy and harmonious administration. He held a series of well-attended District Meetings, had the pleasure of raising his own brother-in-law and nephew, and installed the officers of seventeen lodges. He had the honor of serving as Chaplain of the Grand Masters' Conference in Washington. On his visit to the Grand Lodge of South Carolina he conferred our Drummond Medal upon M. W. Bro. and Dr. L. Wade Temple. His address before the Maine Council of Deliberation of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite was published as an "Occasional Bulletin" and distributed throughout the State.
On May 6, 1956, only three days after the close of our Grand Lodge session, R. W. Convers E. Leach, Grand Secretary Emeritus, passed into the care and keeping of the Supreme Grand Master. His funeral, held in the Woodfords Congregational Church, was conducted by M. W. Bro. and Dr. David L. Wilson, Grand Chaplain, and was attended by the Grand Master and many other members of the Craft. Dr. Wilson also presented Bro. Leach's memorial in Grand Lodge. At the time of his passing, Bro. Leach was ninety years of age.
The first annual Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries was held in New York City in 1956, with the Grand Lodge of New York as host. Maine was represented at this conference by R. W. Lewis T. Brown, a member of our Committee on Masonic Education. Bro. Brown also represented us at the 1957 Conference.
The untimely and unexpected death of M. W. Bro. the Honorable Mr. Justice Granville C. Gray, which occurred on September 2, 1956, came as a tremendous shock to the people of Maine, and, in particular, to Bro. Gray's Masonic brethren. His funeral was held in the Brewer Methodist Church, and was attended by Grand Master Burbank, other Masonic dignitaries, and many representatives of the Bench and Bar. Masonic funeral services were conducted by the officers of St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 83, Bangor. As M. W. Bro. Gray had served as an officer in World War I, he was interred with military honors. M. W. Carroll W. Keene presented his memorial in Grand Lodge.
On October 13, 1956, Brotherhood Lodge, No. 218, was formally constituted under its charter by M. W. Aubrey L. Burbank, Grand Master of Masons in Maine. Its first officers were installed by M. W. Paul L. Powers, who had granted the original dispensation for this lodge. Bro. Powers also presented a new Altar Bible to Brotherhood Lodge.
The Maine Masonic Blood Bank, under the chairmanship of R. W. Elmer S. Doe, continued to receive excellent support from the brethren, a total of 1,900 pints of blood being donated in this administration. The state was divided into three areas, each with an area chairman, for the more efficient supervision of this program.
Like his predecessor, M. W. Bro. Burbank was active in promoting the Order of DeMolay and in urging the support of that organization by the Freemasons of Maine. Large classes of DeMolay boys in Lewiston and Skowhegan were named in honor of Grand Master Burbank, and he was awarded the DeMolay Legion of Honor. On several occasions, it was his pleasure to confer the Master Mason degree upon the first DeMolay boys in those areas to become members of our Fraternity.
Our Grand Lodge made a contribution of $500 to Louisiana hurricane relief.
Bro. Burbank had the pleasure of presenting special seventy-five year membership awards to two brethren who were 99 and 101 years of age. Both were able to climb the stairs to the lodge room on the night when these awards were presented.
Many visitors from the Canadian Provinces spend their summer vacations in the Old Orchard Beach area. Among them are many members of the Masonic Fraternity. An annual "Canadian Night" to honor these visitors is held by Orchard Lodge, No. 215. Grand Master Burbank was present at one of these events.
Grand Master Burbank presided over the dedication of two new Masonic Temples—that of Preble Lodge, No. 143, at Sanford, and that of Bethel Lodge, No. 97, at Bethel. He was present at the 150th anniversary observance of Oxford Lodge, No. 18, Norway, and at the centennial celebrations held by St. Andrew's Lodge, No. 83, Bangor, Star in the West Lodge, No. 85, Unity, Temple Lodge, No. 86, Westbrook, Benevolent Lodge, No. 87, Carmel, Narraguagas Lodge, No. 88, Cherryfield, Island Lodge, No. 89, Islesboro, and Siloam Lodge, No. 92, Fairfield.
One of the outstanding meetings in this administration was the Area Meeting, serving the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Masonic Districts, held in Waldoboro under the auspices of our Committee on Masonic Education, with King Solomon's Lodge, No. 61, as host. This meeting was attended by thirteen Grand Lodge officers, nine Permanent Members, and delegations from forty lodges. Addresses were delivered by M. W. Ralph J. Pollard and M. W. Paul L. Powers of our Committee, R. W. Alton L. Miller, Past Deputy Grand Master in Massachusetts, R. W. John M. Littlefield, Deputy Grand Master, and M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank, Grand Master. A program of entertainment was furnished by the host lodge.
In his annual address in 1958, M. W. Bro. Burbank had this to say:
"Not only is it contrary to Masonic law to allow the use or appearance of liquor around Masonic premises, but such behavior might well injure the good name of Masonry in the community, and wherever Masonry is brought into dispute in a community, the fraternity would be better off were that limb severed from the body of Masonry. We cannot allow the lambskin of Masonry to be stained by the irrespective actions of any of its wearers."
Fraternal recognition was extended to the new United Grand Lodge of Germany in 1957. Fraternal relations were established with the new Grand Lodge of the State of Israel, the Grand Lodge of Argentina, and the venerable Grand East of the Netherlands in the following year.
The constitution of our Grand Lodge was amended in such a manner as to permit dual membership. A Maine Mason may now belong to one lodge in this state and to one lodge in any foreign Jurisdiction recognized by the Grand Lodge of Maine which also permits dual membership.
John M. Littlefield Sixty-eighth Grand Master
M. W. John M. Littlefield, an official of the Auburn Water District and a Past General Grand Master of the General Grand Council, R. & S. M., succeeded to the Chair of our Grand Lodge in 1958. In his administration, issues of great importance were decided, and much important legislation was enacted. Bro. Littlefield did a great deal of visiting, not only to symbolic lodges but also to all bodies of both the York and Scottish Rites. At his two schools for D.D.G.M.'s and at his official District Meetings, representatives of the various Grand Lodge programs were given an opportunity to bring these programs to the attention of the brethren. At the National Conferences, M. W. Bro. Littlfield served on the committee which placed a wreath at the tomb of Wor. Bro. George Washington at Mount Vernon.
The third annual Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries was held in Boston on June 13-14, 1958, with the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts as host. The key-note address, entitled "What a Mason Should Know About Masonry", was delivered by M. W. Ralph J. Pollard, Chairman of Maine's Committee on Masonic Education. This address was published by the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts and Maine, appeared in several Masonic magazines, and was given nation-wide circulation as a "Short Talk Bulletin" by the Masonic Service Association. R. W. Lewis T. Brown also attended this conference, and represented Maine at the Philadelphia Conference in 1959.
In April of 1959, another paper by M. W. Bro. Pollard, entitled "Freemasons in American History", was published as a Digest by the Masonic Service Association. A second edition was soon necessary. This paper has since been reproduced by the Scottish Rite bodies in Philadelphia and Erie, Pennsylvania.
Hearing that certain affiliated groups were using lotteries and raffles as a means of raising money, M.W. Bro. Littlefield issued a strong circular letter on this subject, which he ordered to be read in all lodges and which was sent to all appendant and affiliated groups. The improper fund raising activities were discontinued.
Wor. and Dr. Harold L. Chute became General Chairman of the Masonic Blood Bank program, and did a great deal of speaking for the promotion of this project. Our Maine brethren continued to give good support. In this two year period, a total of 1,263 pints of blood were donated. Dr. Chute's services won for him an award of our Simon Greenleaf Medal.
New editions of our official candidate booklets and of the "Maine Masonic Textbook" were published. A special committee, headed by M. W. Ervin E. J. Lander, completed the annotation of the Constitution, Standing Regulations and Digest of Decisions of the Grand Lodge of Maine, and the completed revision was published in loose-leaf form and was distributed to the lodges.
Another special committee, under the chairmanship of Wor. and Rev. M. Gerry Plummer, Grand Chaplain, prepared and presented a new Memorial Service, which was adopted by Grand Lodge. This service may be used at special gatherings on the evening before the actual funeral, or as an optional substitute for the regular Masonic funeral service.
In 1959, fraternal recognition was extended to the Grand Lodge of Greece. In Germany, the United Grand Lodge and the National Grand Lodge working under the Swedish Rite had merged under the title of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, Brotherhood of German Freemasons. Our recognition of the United Grand Lodge was extended to include this new union.
The following paragraph from the Foreword to the Maine Correspondence Report in 1959 was widely quoted in other Jurisdictions:
"Freemasonry is very old-and very tough. It has survived for centuries because it is founded upon eternal truths, because its teachings are timeless and relevant to every age, and because it satisfies some of the deepest of all human needs. It has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt itself to changing conditions. It readily adjusted to the great changes wrought by the Protestant Reformation, and derived new spiritual strength and vigor from that movement. In the seventeenth century it successfully transformed itself from an operative society of working stonemasons into the purely speculative society which we know today. Since that transition, it has survived both political and industrial revolutions, has withstood the strains and stresses of civil wars, has weathered the storms of persecution, and has proved its ability to function equally well in monarchies and in republics, in metropolitan areas and on the remote frontier, in times of peace and in times of war, in periods of prosperity and in periods of depression, in a simple agricultural society and in a complex industrialized civilization. It has successfully met every challenge of the past and there is no reason to doubt that it will successfully meet every challenge of the future."
The question of a possible Masonic Home in Maine, so often discussed in the past and so often rejected by our Grand Lodge, was again revived. This matter was referred to a select special committee, which, over a three year period, made a thorough study of such institutions throughout the Country, and which, finally, in 1959, presented a report favoring the establishment of such a Home in Maine. The Grand Lodge, however, by a decisive vote, again rejected this proposition. Apparently, a great majority of our lodges and their members were well satisfied with the manner in which our Grand Lodge charity was being handled under the wise administration of M. W. Charles E. Crossland.
Two special communications of Grand Lodge were held, at one of which M. W. Aubrey L. Burbank presided at the dedication of the Masonic Temple of Corinthian Lodge, No. 95, at Hartland, while M. W. Bro. Littlefield presided at the dedication of the Masonic Temple of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 61, at Waldoboro.
The Grand Master assisted Maine Lodge, No. 20, Farmington, and Felicity Lodge, No. 19, Bucksport, in celebrating their 150th anniversaries. He also attended the centennial celebrations of Harwood Lodge, No. 91, Machias, Horeb Lodge, No. 93, Lincoln, and Monument Lodge, No. 96, Houlton, and the 50th anniversary of Meduncook Lodge, No. 211, Friendship.
Past Grand Master Ernest C. Butler, an outstanding member of the Maine Bar and the distinguished Chairman of our Committee on Amendments to the Constitution, was called to the Grand Lodge Above on October 15, 1959. His memorial in Grand Lodge was presented by R. W. Ralph T. Jenkins.
Bro. Littlefield attended the annual District Deputies picnics at China Lake, and the annual "Canadian Day" in Old Orchard.
The closing days of 1959 saw the death of His Excellency, Bro. Clinton A. Clauson, Governor of the State of Maine. His State Funeral was held in the National Guard Armory at Augusta. The Masonic funeral service was conducted by Waterville Lodge, No. 33, in a most impressive manner.
On March 22, 1960, United Lodge, No. 8, Brunswick, held an "Edward W. Wheeler Night" honoring its most distinguished member, the senior Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine, the Chairman of our Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence, and the Illustrious Grand Lieutenant Commander of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States. M. W. Bro. Littlefield was among those present, and was happy to pay his personal tribute to this distinguished Craftsman.
The largest attended meeting in this administration was held on April 9, 1960, under the auspices of Deering Lodge, No. 183. At this meeting, held in the Portland Exposition Building and attended by 2,500 brethren, a degree team from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment at Halifax, Nova Scotia, presented the work of the Master Mason degree in a most precise and impressive manner.
At our 1960 communication, the "Declaration of Principles" discussed at the Grand Masters' Conference many years ago and since adopted by many of our American Grand Lodges was formally incorporated into our own Grand Lodge Constitution. The special Committee on Masonic Education was replaced by a permanent standing Committee on Masonic Education and Lodge Service, composed of seven members and charged with wide constitutional responsibilities.
The Masonic Service Association's hospital visitation program at Togus was continued. Bro. Alec Speck had been succeeded as hospital visitor by Bro. Earle C. Kimball, also of Augusta. When ill health forced Bro. Kimball to retire in 1959, R. W. Harold S. Baker succeeded to this important post, and soon demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for this work.
Leon M. Sanborn Sixty-ninth Grand Master
M. W. and Hon. Leon M. Sanborn was elected Grand Master in 1960. An insurance company executive, he also had a distinguished record of public service as a long-time member of our State Legislature and as a member of the Governor's Executive Council. His administration was busy and fruitful. Among Bro. Sanborn's many out-of-state visitations was his attendance at the centennial celebration of the Grand Lodge of Colorado.
The new Committee on Masonic Education and Lodge Service immediately got to work. Committee Representatives were named in all twenty-four Districts. In September of 1960, this Committee began the publication of an official Grand Lodge periodical. Issued quarterly, this modest bulletin contains messages from the Grand Master, editorials, articles by prominent Freemasons, pertinent quotations, notices and items of current news interest to the Craft. It is sent free to all officers and permanent members of Grand Lodge, to committee representatives, to all officers of all subordinate lodges and to such other brethren as request the same through their lodge secretaries.
The year 1960 marked the centennial of Josiah H. Drummond's first election as Grand Master. To commemorate this event and to familiarize our younger members with Drummond's services to the Craft, four Area Meetings were held under the auspices of this Committee—one in Portland, with Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 17, as host; one in Orrington, with Ralph J. Pollard Lodge, No. 217, as host; one in Houlton, with Monument Lodge, No. 96, as host; and one in Augusta, with Bethlehem Lodge, No. 35, and Augusta Lodge, No. 141, as joint hosts. At Portland, M. W. Clark D. Chapman, the distinguished grandson of the great Drummond and the Grand Master in whose administration and upon whose recommendation our Maine Veterans Medal had been established, received his own Veterans Medal from the hands of Grand Master Sanborn. M. W. Henry R. Gillis celebrated his ninetieth birthday by attending the Houlton meeting. In Augusta, M. W. George F. Giddings told of his personal association with Drummond. The success of these meetings led to the holding of eight Area Meetings in 1961, at which Grand Lodge panels answered questions from the floor upon a wide variety of Masonic subjects. Members of this Committee also spoke at all of the District Meetings held by M. W. Bro. Sanborn.
Our Speakers Bureau was extremely active at this time, more than 500 educational addresses being delivered in Bro. Sanborn's administration. Our most active speakers included the Grand Master himself, M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank, M. W. Paul L. Powers, M. W. Ralph J. Pollard, R. W. Raymond M. Rideout, R. W. Lewis T. Brown, and R. W. Donald T. Page. Our Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Raymond M. Rideout, spoke over radio station WFAU in Augusta on the "History, Objectives and Ideals of Freemasonry."
The Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries held its 1960 Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. Maine was represented by R. W. Raymond M. Rideout, R. W. Lewis T. Brown and R. W. Ray L. Littlefield. The same brethren represented us at the 1961 Conference, held in Richmond, Virginia. R. W. Bro. Rideout presented a paper at this conference, and was named as chairman of two committees.
The Blood Bank program, still under the leadership of R. W. and Dr. Harold L. Chute, continued to give efficient and invaluable service. In this administration, 1,642 pints of blood were donated. A blood donor's lapel pin, designed by R. W. Gilbert R. Chadbourne, was adopted, produced and distributed to brethren donating four or more pints of blood to this program. Additions to the basic pin indicated the giving of eight or more pints.
By act of the State Legislature, signed into law by Governor Reed, the Civil Charter of the Grand Lodge of Maine was amended to remove all limitations as to the value of real and personal property held by the Grand Lodge. A special committee, headed by M. W. Paul L. Powers, was responsible for securing the passage of this legislation.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial was now completed, but the need of an endowment fund which would provide for its maintenance and upkeep for all time was evident. Under the so-called "Pennsylvania Plan", it was suggested that each lodge make a contribution of $10.00 from the lodge and $1.00 from each of its members to such an endowment. Grand Master Sanborn urged our Maine lodges to accept this responsibility. By the close of his term, twenty-eight of our lodges had made 100% contributions under this plan, with many more partial contributions. A partial payment of $10,000 was made to the Association in February of 1962.
The 1961 communication of our Grand Lodge was honored by presence of His Excellency, Wor. John H. Reed, Governor of the State of Maine, who addressed the brethren. His Excellency was accompanied by three Masonic members of his Executive Council—Wor. Robert L. Travis, Chairman, Bro. Frank Wood and Bro. Ronald S. Wight. At this communication, our Drummond Medal was presented to M. W. Conrad Hahn, Past Grand Master in Connecticut and Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association.
Our Grand Lodge had for some time required that lodges bond their secretaries and treasurers. Few lodges, however, except for those meeting in our large city Temples, had ever secured the protection offered by public liability insurance. A special committee, headed by M. W. John M. Littlefield, made a thorough study of the insurance problem and submitted its findings at this communication. It found that a blanket policy providing fidelity bonds for the Grand Lodge and all its subordinates could be procured at a cost substantially less than that paid by the lodges for individual policies. It also found that a similar blanket policy giving comprehensive public liability and medical expense protection could be procurred at a very reasonable cost. It recommended that such policies be purchased and that the lodges be billed for their proper share of the expense through the Grand Secretary's office. These recommendations were adopted.
On November 29, 1960, Grand Master Sanborn issued his dispensation for a new lodge in the Town of Scarborough, named in honor of M. W. William King, the first Governor of the State of Maine and the first Grand Master of our Grand Lodge. This lodge received its charter in 1961. On September 9, a special communication of Grand Lodge was held, at which Governor William King Lodge, No. 219, was solemnly constituted and consecrated by M. W. Leon M. Sanborn, Grand Master of Masons in Maine.
M. W. Leon H. Snyder, Grand Master of Masons in Colorado, visited the State of Maine. On December 28, 1961, Grand Master Sanborn held a special communication of the Grand Lodge of Maine in his honor. The work of the Master Mason degree was presented by the officers of Brotherhood Lodge, No. 218, Portland.
Several of our lodges observed important anniversaries in this administration. Oriental Star Lodge, No. 21, Livermore Falls, was reconstituted as part of its sesqui-centennial celebration. Our Grand Lodge and Grand Master also assisted the following lodges in celebrating their centennials: Bethel Lodge, No. 97, Bethel; Katahdin Lodge, No. 98, Patten; Vernon Valley Lodge, No. 99, Mount Vernon; Jefferson Lodge, No. 100, Bryants Pond; Nezinscot Lodge, No. 101, Turner; Marsh River Lodge, No. 102, Brooks; Dirigo Lodge, No. 104, Week's Mills; Ashlar Lodge, No. 105, Lewiston; Day Spring Lodge, No. 107, West Newfield; Mount Kineo Lodge, No. 109, Guilford; and Monmouth Lodge, No. 110, Monmouth. Springvale Lodge, No. 190, Springvile, observed its 75th anniversary.
The outstanding event in this administration was the 200th anniversary observance of Portland Lodge, No. 1. On March 20, 1962, the lodge held its private birthday party for members, their ladies and invited guests at the Eastland Motor Hotel. On March 23, a special communication was held in Corinthian Hall, at which an historical address was delivered by M. W. Ralph J. Pollard. In the evening, an organ recital on the great organ in the auditorium of Portland City Hall was given by Wor. Wilfrid Tremblay, Grand Organist, after which a grand ball was held, at which 2,800 brethren and their ladies danced to the music of a nationally famous orchestra. On the afternoon of March 24, the Grand Lodge of Maine met in special communication in Corinthian Hall, and M. W. Bro. Sanborn formally received the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, presided over by M. W. Laurence E. Eaton, who then solemnly reconstituted Portland Lodge under its 1762 warrant from the R. W. Jeremy Gridley, Provincial Grand Master for North America under the English Constitution. The celebration ended with a banquet at the Portland Exposition Building, attended by more than 1,100 brethren. His Excellency, Governor John H. Reed, was seated at the head table and addressed the brethren. A snappy precision drill was presented by the Legion of Honor of Kora Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., and the diners were entertained by a professional humorist and by several acts of high-class vaudeville. As part of this celebration, an attractive and valuable souvenir volume was published by the Paul Revere Club of Portland Lodge.
On April 11, 1962, the opening prayer in the United States Senate was given by M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank, Pastor of the Centenary Methodist Church in Skowhegan and a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Maine.
At our 1962 communication, fraternal recognition was extended to the Grand Lodges of Finland and Japan, a resolution calling for the observance of Law Day by all lodges was adopted, the annual per capita tax was increased to $1.00, and a forty-year service button was authorized.
On the second day of this communication, the Grand Lodge of Maine held its own observance of the Bi-Centennial of Freemasonry in Maine. M. W. Bro. Sanborn introduced Wor. Earle W. Stover, Master of Portland Lodge, No. 1, who in turn presented the other officers of that lodge, all of whom were congratulated by the Grand Master upon the excellence of their lodge's bi-centennial program. Prayer was offered by Wor. and Rev. Milton M. McGorrill, Grand Chaplain. Musical selections were rendered by the Choir of Maine Consistory, A.A.S.R. Remarks were made by R. W. Raymond M. Rideout, Chairman of the Grand Lodge Bi-Centennial Committee, after which the Bi-Centennial Oration was delivered by M. W. Ralph J. Pollard. This address closed with the following quotation from an address by M. W. Josiah H. Drummond:
"Some of us have clasped hands in this Grand Lodge for almost a generation; this is the second anniversary in which we have participated; when the next shall come, we shall be but memories; you will have taken our places and another generation will fill yours: may you be able to say to them then, as we say to you now, 'As you love Masonry, whatever betides, come prosperity or come adversity, adhere with unflinching tenacity to the ancient usages of the Craft' ".
In 1962, for the first time since our Grand Lodge banquets were inaugurated, the banquet speaker was one of our own members— M. W. and Rev. Aubrey L. Burbank. His scholarly and inspiring address included this paragraph:
"Throughout history, Masonry has led every movement for progress, and has survived every attack. Today it faces its most glorious opportunity. Ours is a magnificent heritage. As you and I live our Masonry, so shall Masonry live. Our very existence depends upon the character of our members, and that, in turn, rests upon our spiritual faith. If we are to carry on and perfect the structure which our fathers built—if we are to adorn the Temple through lives lived in the service of God and fellow-men, we must have a deep and abiding faith. We cannot afford to be lethargic, sleeping Masons. We must be dedicated . . . We must be motivated . . . We must be consecrated Masons. Let us, then, rise up, my brethren, to the opportunity, the challenge and the need that lies before us."
As we bring this Chapter to a close, we find that there were, in 1962, 209 lodges on the Grand Lodge register, with a combined membership of 47,741. Hiram Lodge, No. 180, South Portland, with a membership of 1,228, was still our largest lodge. The smallest was now Naskeag Lodge, No. 171, Brooklin, with 50 members. Average lodge membership was now 228.
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