History Highlights of Ralph J. Pollard Lodge - A.F. & A.M. (1946 to 1956)
Our Lodge is celebrating its 9th birthday tonight and are happy to have as its special guests our Bros. from Mystic Lodge of Hampden. Also our other visitors and M. W. Carroll V. Keene,
This Lodge will be forever grateful for the genuine friendship that we have received from Mystic Lodge. Bros. Everett Hewes and Harry Sargent are here tonight and if they weren't we would miss them greatly. We do miss Wor. Bro. Joe Hoyt.
On March 3rd, 1949 at our 24th Stated Communication this Lodge passed a resolution to show our esteem in some appropriate manner to three brethren to whom we felt especially indebted; they were M. W. Carroll W. Keene, W. John Sargent and R. W. Howard Houston. If we have not carried out this resolution at least our intentions have been good.
Probably no other masonic lodge in the U. S. has had a more interesting and fruitful 9 years than ours just passed. We have seen a bare beginning with 36 M. M. signing a petition for charter of dispensation which was the first requisite in having a Lodge of our own, to a present membership of 259 members. From a Lodge without a Hall of its own to one with a beautiful temple.
Our progress can be summed up in a few words - the formation and institution, its exemplification of the M. M. degree at Portland before Grand Lodge and receipt of certificate of charter. The cornerstone laying of the new temple, the occupancy and dedication.
Our endeavors to reach these milestones are not as simply stated. We have reached them without faltering or losing momentum by the combined efforts of every member, the excellent caliber of our officers and from help and encouragement from every Masonic quarter.
The Lodge has been most fortunate in being named after the man whose very name it has been our privilege to use. Even before the most of us had seen M. W. Ralph J. Pollard we were convinced that with the inspiration of his name to guide us we could not fail. That is why on the night of Friday, January 31st, 1947 at the N. Orrington school with the balloting on a name for our new Lodge his name won 27 for and none against. The other name was Aynon the son of Hiram Abiff.
We were fortunate in having as our first master R. W. John C. Condon, as our first S. W. Athelbert B. Crook and as our first J. W. Raymond W. Collins.
R. W. Bro. Condon has the distinction of having served as master of Mystic Lodge as well as master of this Lodge. Bro. Condon has brought us much credit and it can truthfully be said that he hasn't tapered off. He has served Grand Lodge in several capacities and has been our D. D. G. M. of this 6th Masonic District.
The history of our Lodge has just been written to comply with the Grand Lodge regulation of having it brought up to date each decade. Although it is a 50 page document there was such a wealth of material that it could just as easily have been 100 pages.
This brief sketch of our history covers the span of nine Worshipful Masters. They are Bros. -
John C. Condon
Athelbert B. Crook
Raymond W. Collins
Donald F. Adams
Chas. W. Buchanan
Woodrow W. McLaughlin
Leland C. Mitchell
Sumner P. Bridges and
Herbert R. Sawyer
Each Master has played an important part in the steady progress of this Lodge and can rightfully be called a Master Builder. Under these Masters the Lodge has gained wide recognition for its hospitality to visiting brethren, its fine degree work, its adherence to Masonic tradition and the high degree of accomplishment in everything it has undertaken.
As early as our 2nd Stated Meeting, Wor. M. John Condon brought up for discussion the very generous offer of Bro. Gerald Bunker offering enough stumpage for lumber to build a new lodge building, of Bro. Chas. Tibbetts for the paying of the sawing and of Bro. L. H. Thompson for enough gravel.
A building committee consisting of Bros. Raymond Collins, Chas. Tibbetts, Gerald Bunker, P. Roy Clark, Fred Clark and Edward Moore was appointed to submit plans and to take care of getting the lumber cut. Although this committee did not feel financially able to proceed with actual operations it was their beginning that paved the way for future progress.
Our Lodge has grown steadily as indicated by the following figures:
| March | 15 | - 1948 | there were | 92 members |
| March | 14 | - 1949 | there were | 128 members |
| March | 3 | - 1950 | there were | 154 members |
| Jan. | 2 | - 1951 | there were | 177 members |
| Jan. | 2 | - 1952 | there were | 188 members |
| Jan. | 1 | - 1953 | there were | 208 members |
| Jan. | 1 | - 1954 | there were | 227 members |
| Dec. | 31 | - 1955 | there were | 259 members |
Our attendance rating has been amongst the highest in the State according to Grand Lodge. In 1950 it was the highest with an average of 43.4 %.
It is with a sad feeling tonight to think of Our Bros., Wor. John Sargent, Wor. Elmer Cole, Hebert Harris, Harold Maloon and Ronald Robertson as not being with us in person. They were fine examples of the Craft.
In closing, it seems fitting that the words of Bro. Paul A. Smith raised in our Lodge, Chairman of first Building Committee and the first to pass on to the Lodge above, should be repeated here. "What a wonderful place this town, state and country would be if we could get all Master Masons to live up to all their obligations."
Since all history must have a beginning, the history of Ralph J. Pollard Lodge will start at the North Orrington school, the evening of December 5th, 1946.
The reasons for the meeting were simple- Orrington did not have a Masonic lodge of its own and came under the jurisdiction of Mystic Lodge #65 in Hampden, which was across the Penobscot River and required a good many miles of travel by road to attend. The jurisdiction was set up many years previously and followed the custom of granting jurisdiction according to the nearest travelled route. The nearest travelled route at that time was but a short distance across the river by ferry and everything worked out fine. Since the ferry had ceased to exist and all attendance had to be made by way of Bucksport or through Brewer and Bangor, the situation seemed undesirable.
The Bangor Lodges were not appealing since their membership was already too large from our own standpoint.
Bucksport was not much closer than Hampden from many parts of Orrington.
Probably the greatest contributing factor was the desire to create a Lodge of our own so as to leave something from our own hands to posterity.
It was fortunate for us that Bro. John C. Condon of Orrington who was just finishing his tenure as 'Worshipful Master of Mystic Lodge could be prevailed upon to lead us in all our undertakings.
The records show, that on December 5, 1946 a meeting of all Masons of the town of Orrington was called at the North Orrington school by a self appointed committee consisting of Bros. Athelbert B. Crook, Raymond W. Collins, Oscar Salisbury and Vernon Smith.
Because of their historical significance, the minutes of the organizational meetings will be reported as they appear in the records.
The meeting of December 5, 1946 was called to order by Bro. Athelbert Crook at 8:15 p.m. Bro. Crook explained the purpose of the meeting and asked if the assembled group was interested in forming a Masonic lodge in Orrington. A vote of hands was taken and it was found to be unanimous in favor among this group. Bro. Crook then told the body it would be necessary to elect a Chairman and Secretary and called for nominations for chairman. Bro. Crook being nominated and elected to fill this office. Bro. Collins was nominated and elected Secretary to fill the office until such time as a petition could be forwarded to the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Carroll W. Keene, for a charter.
Bro. Crook introduced Bro. Deputy Grand Master R. W. Howard Houston who was asked to attend this meeting. He gave an interesting talk and explained the course of action to be taken.
At this time discussion was begun in regards to dues to be set for the Lodge. After several remarks a motion was made that we set the dues to start at five dollars per year. Motion was seconded and carried.
Bro. Crook told the meeting that it was necessary to establish a meeting night as it had to be included in the petition to the Grand Master. The first Thursday of each month received the most votes and was set as the meeting night.
At this time during the meeting, Bro. Lewis J. Sawyer made the first gift to the newly proposed Lodge of twenty-five dollars to be used as a fee to the Grand Master at the time of the petition for our dispensation. This was followed by a donation from Bro. Gerald Bunker with the sum of ten dollars. This being followed by many other brothers of the town as well as many from other places. These names are attached on a separate sheet and appear on our records.
A motion was made and seconded that our meeting time be set at 7:30 p. m. This was carried.
Bro. Edward Bunker made a motion that a committee of three be elected from the floor to select a name for the new Lodge. It was seconded by Bro. Harold Lobley. Bros. Vernon Smith, Donald Adams and Lewis Sawyer were elected.
Bro. Crook announced at this time that it would be necessary according to the Blue Book to nominate and elect three Chair officers as their names had to be on the petition to the Grand Master.
Bro. John Condon was nominated and elected as the first Master. Athelbert B. Crook was nominated and elected first Senior Warden and Raymond W. Collins was nominated and elected first Junior Warden.
Bro. Gerald Bunker made a motion that we accept the offer of the I. O. O. F. of the use of their Hall at Orrington Corner. At this time some discussion was begun in regards to the rental fee of the I. O. O. F. Hall. Nobody being able to give any definite figure, Bro. Lester Goss volunteered to find out what the rental of the Hall would be on a one meeting a month basis.
A motion was made at this time that if accepting the Hall we make a written contract with the I. O. O. F. in regards to the rental. This was seconded and carried.
Bro. Edward Bunker made a motion that the three Chair officers be appointed to prepare a set of by-laws. This motion was seconded and carried.
At this time the question arose as to the amount of secretarial work that would be necessary and if it would not be well to elect a regular Secretary at this time. Bro. Henry R. Wright was nominated and elected.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p. m.
Forty two were present.
January 8, 1947
The committee consisting of Bros., Donald Adams, Vernon Smith and Lewis Sawyer met at the home of Bro. Sawyer Wednesday evening January 8th to choose a name for the new Orrington Lodge.
Bros., John Condon, Athelbert Crook, Raymond Collins and District Deputy Grand Master Howard Houston met at the I. O. O. F. Hall to inspect it for our future Lodge quarters. It met with approval.
On the same night the Odd Fellows voted to let the Masons have the use of the complete building with janitor service for twelve meetings a year for a rental fee of one hundred dollars. A charge for special meetings to be prorated on this figure.
On the way home, Bros., Condon, Crook and Collins without R. W. Bro. Houston surprised the committee at Bro. Sawyers by dropping in on their meeting.
Several names were suggested for our new Lodge, historical names, ritualistic names and names of prominent Masons. After much discussion the name of Ralph J. Pollard was selected because of his outstanding contribution to Masonry and being one of the greatest living Masons in the State today.
January 9. 1947.
After hearing outside discussion, the committee of Bros., Donald Adams, Vernon Smith and Lewis Sawyer held another meeting and selected the name of Aynon. He being thought to be the son of Hiram Abiff.
Sunday 7:30 p. m., January 19, 1947
The officers selected at the first school house meeting -Bros., John Condon W. M., Athelbert Crook S. W., Raymond Collins J. W. and Henry Wright Secr'y., met at the home of Bro. Condon for general discussion and to outline plans for future meetings . Bro. Collins reported that $296.00 in cash had been received by voluntary contribution from interested brethren and $189.00 had been pledged making a total of $485.00.
Bro. Collins reported that recommendations to form a new Lodge had been received from the D. D. G . M. Howard Houston and from the Lodges whose Jurisdictions had been effected, Felicity Lodge of Bucksport, Rising Virtue of Bangor, St. Andrews of Bangor and Mystic Lodge of Hampden.
It was decided to forward our petition for dispensation to the Most Worshipful Grand Master Carroll W. Keene and because there was considerable doubt that the name of the Lodge picked by the committee would be entirely satisfactory to all the brethren, that a letter be sent with the petition, requesting permission to change the name of the Lodge before a charter was granted, if the brethren as a whole so decided.
Officer's aprons, Jewels and other equipment including a ballot box with white balls and cubes were tentatively selected from a catalogue. The ballot box being a present to the Lodge from Bro. Chas. Tibbetts.
Bro. Raymond Collins turned over all secretarial work and correspondence to Secretary Henry Wright.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 p. m.
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