Organization
Through the efforts of Moses Greenleaf and his brother Eben the following group met at the home of Arvardis Shaw, in Sebec, December 10, 1822:
Moses Greenleaf, Eben Weston, Jonathan Robinson. Josiah Towle, Eben Greenleaf, Jason Hassell, David Chase, Moses Morrill, Solomon Parsons, Col. William Morrison, John W. Thompson, Capt. Ephraim Moulton, David Shepard.
To discuss the expediency to organize and establish a lodge of Masons in this section of the county. It was then agreed to meet at Josiah Towle's hall for further discussion on Thursday, January 2, 1823.
Adjourned meeting.
January 2, 1823—Voted—To establish a lodge in this town. Moses Greenleaf, Josiah Towle and William Morrison were appointed a Committee to transact all business necessary thereto.
February 13, 1823 — Voted — To postpone the designation of a name for the lodge until the next meeting, when each brother was to propose a name in writing.
March 13, 1823 — Voted — Unanimous choice that this lodge should be designated Piscataquis Lodge.
April 10, 1823 — Voted — Moses Greenleaf and such of the brethren he might appoint to be a committee to attend Penobscot Lodge of Dexter, and Rising Virtue Lodge of Bangor, (they being the two nearest) relative to the organization of Piscataquis Lodge.
In the meantime Brother Josiah Towle was building a hall suitable to accommodate the lodge.
November 5, 1823 — Voted — That Moses Greenleaf, Josiah Towle and Solomon Parsons, be a committee to procure Charter, Jewels and Furniture, also the other necessary articles for the use of the lodge.
Voted—That the above committee prepare a code of by-laws for the government of the lodge.
January 20, 1825 - Opened in regular form a lodge of Entered Apprentice to study the lectures of that degree.
February 10, 1825 — Reported on the progress of the by-laws and it was voted to add Brothers David Shepard and Eben Greenleaf to the committee.
March 17, 1825 — Reported again on the by-laws and it was declared they were ready for adoption on receipt of the Charter.
Charter Night
Sebec Village, Maine Towle's Hall, March 31, 1825
A lodge of Entered Apprentice was opened in regular form. Presiding were Moses Greenleaf W.M., William Morrison S.W., Josiah Towle J.S., Ephraim Moulton, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., John W. Thompson S.D., David Shepard J.D., Solomon Parsons, Tyler.
The charter dated October 28, 1823, was read.
The by-law committee made its final report on the code of bylaws and they were read and adopted.
In accordance with the by-laws they proceeded to elect their regular officers, viz: Moses Greenleaf W.M., David Shepard S.W., Solomon Parsons J.W., William Morrison, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., Josiah Towle S.D., Jason Hassell J.D., Ephraim Moulton S.S., Jonathan Robinson J.S., John W. Thompson, Tyler.
Finance Committee — Moses Greenleaf, David Shepard, Solomon Parsons.
Guardians (Now called Committee of Inquiry) — Moses Greenleaf, Jason Hassell, Josiah Towle.
Voted - Thanks to Brother W. B. Morrill of Somerset Lodge for the gift of a gavel and truncheons.
(It is interesting to note that the by-laws adopted are quite similar to those now in use, the exceptions being the time and place of the meetings and the amount paid for fees and dues.)
Regular communications were held each month during the rest of the year except July. At the regular communication December 22, 1825, an annual report was given by the Finance Committee and accepted. Also the above officers were elected for another year. It is recorded that there were petitions for the degrees in Masonry, also work and lectures in the first two given.
1826
The officers of the year previous, having been re-elected, continued to hold regular communications insofar as traveling conditions and the health of the craft would permit.
Voted — To give the brethren from Sangerville permission to form a lodge; Mosaic located in Foxcroft.
On December 14, 1826, the annual reports were read and accepted and officers elected for the ensuing year; Viz: David Shepard W.M., Solomon Parsons S.W., Advardis Shaw J.W., William Morrison, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., Josiah Towle S.D., Jason Hassell J.D., Ephraim Moulton S.S., Jonathan Robinson J.S., Isaac Gould, Tyler.
Finance Committee — David Shepard, Solomon Parsons, Advardis Shaw.
Guardians — Moses Greenleaf, Josiah Towle, Jason Hassell.
Installed by David J. Bents D.D.G.M.
1827
Regular communications were held every month during the year. Work in the several degrees was exemplified. No events of interest recorded.
On November 29 of this year the following officers were elected; Viz: David Shepard W.M., Solomon Parsons S.W., Elliot Staples J.W., William Morrison, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., Josiah Towle S.D., Jason Hassell J.D., Joseph Chase S.S., Isaac Gould J.S., John Thompson, Tyler.
Finance Committee — David Shepard, Solomon Parsons, Josiah Towle.
Guardians — Josiah Towle, Elliot Staples, Solomon Parsons.
To be installed at the next regular communication.
1828
This year also was uneventful. Regular communications were held except the months of April, May, September and October.
On December 18th, the annual reports were read and accepted and officers elected; Viz: David Shepard W.M., Solomon Parsons S.W., Elliot Staples J.W., William Morrison, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., Abner Ford S.D., A. H. Merrill J.D., Jonathan Robinson S.S., Ephraim Moulton J.S., John Thompson, Tyler.
Finance Committee — David Shepard, Advardis Shaw, Solomon Parsons.
Guardians — Elliot Staples, Solomon Parsons, David Shepard.
Installed December 27th.
1829 - 1831
The year 1829 proved to be a hard one. The enemies of the fraternity took advantage of the "Morgan Episode" and used their influence to retard its progress.
A few communications were held and on September 10th the question of surrendering the charter was discussed, but this was tabled. On December 10, 1829, officers were again elected; Viz: Moses Greenleaf W.M., Elliot Staples S.W., Advardis Shaw J.W., David Shepard, Treas., Eben Greenleaf, Secy., John W. Thompson S.D., Joseph Chase J.D., Solomon Parsons, Tyler.
Finance Committee - Moses Greenleaf, Advardis Shaw, Abner Ford.
Guardians - Moses Greenleaf, Elliot Staples, Abner Ford.
A change in the by-laws was proposed at this communication:
"That the regular communications be held quarterly January, April, July and October and the hours of said be from two until ten in the afternoon Thursdays on or before the full of the moon."
Brothers Moses Greenleaf, Solomon Parsons, and Advardis Shaw were appointed a committee to report on the question.
The next communication was not held until November 22, 1831 and was honored by a visit from Wor. Brother David Shepard D.D.G.M. of the Seventh Masonic District. Further discussion to change the time of regular communications was made and it was voted to postpone decision until the next regular communication. But alas the next communication was following a lapse of twenty-three years, two months and twenty-two days, February 14, 1855. The committee appointed December 10, 1829, were not present to make their report, death having called them to that lodge above and the rewards for their work while here.
Much more could be said of the activities of Piscataquis Lodge during the time it was located in Sebec, and pages could be written of the men who labored so hard to promote its interests.
Thus suffice it to say: It was builded on a foundation of FAITH, grounded in a hope of ETERNAL LIFE, and will be blessed by posterity.
(So may it be)
Sebec, Maine — Wyman Hall
A called Special Communication; David Shepard, presiding; Joseph Chase S.W., Abner Ford J.W.
Please note these three men were active preceding the twenty-four year recess.
Visiting brethren present, Viz: Russell Kittredge, Amos A. Richards, James M. Barton, William H. Stanchfield, Edward Nason, and John Hoyt, who were proposed at this time and at the adjourned meeting March 14, 1855, were elected to membership. Then this body proceeded to elect officers; Viz: David Shepard W.M., Edward Nason S.W., Abner Ford J.W., Joseph Chase, Treas., Russell Kittredge, Secy., W. H. Stanchfield S.D., James M. Burton J.D., Amos A. Richards, Tyler.
Finance Committee - W. H. Stanchfield, Edward Nason, James M. Barton.
Guardians - Russell Kittredge, Edward Nason, James M. Barton.
Installed March 30, 1855, by R. W. Brother E. B. Averill.
Voted amendments Art. 5, Sec. 3 re Fees for degrees; and Art. 2, Sec. 1, re Changing the date of the communications from Thursday to Friday.
This was carried as the next communication was held on Friday, April 27, 1855.
GRAND LODGE OF MAINE Portland, May 4, 1855
Voted — That Piscataquis Lodge, No. 44, be restored to the list of lodges under this jurisdiction and that it be removed from Sebec to Milo. That a dispensation be issued by the Grand Master for that purpose. A true copy of the record of said Grand Lodge.
Attest: C. B. Smith, Grand Secretary
Entered in the records of Piscataquis Lodge.
Attest: Russell Kittredge, Secretary
Affiliated or Raised 1823 - 1831
Masons who affiliated or were raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, 1823 to 1831:
Moses Greenleaf, Eben Greenleaf, Jason Hassell, Col. William Morrison, Jonathan Robinson, Capt. Ephraim Moulton, Josiah Towle, John W. Thompson, Moses Morrill.
The above named signed the petition for the Charter; their names appear thereon.
RAISED
| Dr. David Shepard1 | March 23, 1825 |
| (Died, May 20, 1864) | |
| Solomon Parsons | March 31, 1825 |
| Elliot Staples | March 2, 1827 |
| Advardis Shaw | March 22, 1826 |
| Abner Ford | December 18, 1826 |
| Adams H. Merrill | July 12, 1827 |
| Isaac Gould | December 14, 1826 |
| Amos Davis | December 18, 1829 |
| Joseph Chase | August 17, 1828 |
| Thaddeus Taylor | August 17, 1828 |
| Henry R. Parsons | August 2, 1827 |
| Rev. James Harrington | March 28, 1828 |
| C. S. Chandler | June 26, 1828 |
Others who took an active part in some of the communications but their names do not appear on the Roll of Members:
Eben Weston, David Chase, Jonathan Pike, Charles Parsons, William S. Lee, Tolman Carey, William Frost, Joseph Kelley, William Rowell, Joseph Proctor, Wiggins Merrill, Jr., N. W. Sheldon, Samuel Roby, Nathan Moore, Nymphon Turner.
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1Dr. David Shepard was the first candidate raised in Piscataquis Lodge. He was also D. D. G. M. of the 7th District during that period of Anti-Masonic agitation. In 1834, he rendered the Grand Lodge a report on the conditions of the fraternity in this locality. It was very able and understanding. It is regretted that we cannot quote it as it was written. The general proceedings of 1840, page 297, refer to it.
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