History Highlights of Ralph J. Pollard Lodge - A.F. & A.M. (1956 to 1966)
On Thursday evening January 5, 1956 the 92nd. stated communication was held under the leadership of newly installed Wor. Bro. Herbert R. Sawyer.
Thursday January 19, 1956 a special communication was held to work the Entered Apprentice degree by the guest officers of Fillicity Lodge {Typographical error: The correct lodge name is Felicity} No, 19 A.F.& A.M. of Bucksport. Wor. Bro. Fred W. Danforth as master.
Thursday February 9, 1956 a special communication was held to work the Fellow-Craft degree by the guest officers of Lynde Lodge No. 174 of Hermon. Wor. Bro. Zerah McCarthy as master.
Thursday March 1, 1956 the 94th. stated communication was held. M.W. Bro. Carrol W. Keene was the guest speaker. This night was designated as the Lodge Birthday night. A Birthday cake with candles were lighted and the past masters present were invited to each blow out a candle, and give some highlight during their year. Rt. Wor. Bro, John Condon, our first Master, spoke of exemplifying the third degree in Grand Lodge and the cooperation and effort of the Brethren during his year as master, Wor, Bro, Athelbert Crook, our second Master, said that the charter was granted during his year as master and he also spoke of the trip the lodge took to Waldoboro. Wor. Bro. Raymond Collins, our third Master, spoke of there being much degree work during his term and recalled that we observed our first annual Ralph J. Pollard Night, Wor. Bro. Donald Adams, our fourth Master was not present.
Wor. Bro. Charles Buchanan, our fifth Master, stated that he just coasted along during his year, but anyone who knows Wor. Bra. Charles knows that he worked hard during his term as master. The records show that during his year as master twenty candidates were raised and there were three affiliations. Wor. Bro. Woodrow McLaughlin, our sixth Master, advised us that during his year as Master he had two very fine Wardens. Wor. Bro. Leland Mitchell, our seventh Master, said that during his year in the East he saw our splendid new temple started and the Corner Stone laying Ceremony one of the very big events in the history of this lodge took place. Wor. Bro. Sumner Bridges our eighth Master, told us that he had greatly enjoyed his year as master and that the lodge held their first meeting in the new temple and also the dedication of the new temple took place. M.W. Bro. Carroll W. Keene, the principal speaker of the evening, spoke of the condition of the craft, its aims and some brief history. The birthday cake was enjoyed by all.
Thursday March 15,1956 at this special communication the Master Mason degree was conferred by the following Guest Past Masters.
R.W. Bro. Aubrey L. Burbank D.G.M. as Master
Wor. Bro. Fred Danforth as Senior Warden
Wor. Bro. Donald Libby as Junior Warden
Wor. Bro. Richard Moran as Treasurer
Wor. Bro. Charles Tapley as Secretary
Wor. Bro. Zerah McCarthy as Senior Deacon
Wor. Bro. Clyde Newcomb as Junior Deacon
Wor. Bro. Joseph Hoit as Chaplain
Wor. Bro. Harold Williams as Senior Steward
Wor. Bro. Walter Canty as Junior Steward
Wor. Bro. Robert Hutchins as Marshal
Wor. Bro. Alden Mitchell as 1st. Fellowcraft
Wor. Bro. Everett Hewes as 2nd. Fellowcraft
Wor. Bro. Frank Hodge as 3rd. Fellowcraft
Wor. Bro. Haley Pulk at 1st. Gate
Wor. Bro. Lydon Goodell at 2nd. Gate
Wor. Bro. Verne Wheet at 3rd. Gate
Wor. Bro. Joseph Hoit gave a Special Charge
April 5,1956 at this 95th stated communication, Military Night was observed The Color Guards were M/Sgt Bro. Lake, M/Sgt Bro. Harellson and M/Sgt Bro. Foote, all from Dow Air Force Base. A gift of a fine clock was presented to the lodge from Bro. Donald Witham and door knockers were presented from Bro. Ashton Gourley of Wyoming Lodge of Melrose, Wyoming. {Webmaster Note: This is in error. Wyoming Lodge is located in Melrose, MASSACHUSETTS. An e-mail from their Secretary on January 3, 2008 states the following: "Bro. Ed, I did a little research through our records and found that Bro. Ashton E. Gourley was a member of Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, Massachusetts, from February 1948 until his death in May 1971. I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your project and best wishes for the new year. Roger W. Waugh, Secretary}. These were much appreciated by the brethren. Guest speakers were Major Bro. Johnson from Dow Air Force Base, M.W. Ralph J. Pollard, Commander Bro. Fairley from Maine Maritime Academy and Chief Bro. Thurston Thompson.
April 9, 1956 the officers of the lodge conferred the Master Mason degree at Pine Tree Lodge No. 172 Mattawamkeag.
April 12, 1956 a special communication was held to work the Entered Apprentice degree. The officers of Mystic Lodge No, 65 Hampden worked the degree.
April 19,1956 a special communication was held to work the Master Mason degree. The officers of Piscataquis Lodge No. 44 worked the degree.
May 17, 1956 a special communication was held to work the Master Mason degree. The officers of Katahdin Lodge No. 98 of Patten worked the degree.
September 6, 1956 at this 98th stated communication M.W. Paul L. Powers showed slides he had taken on his Masonic Journeys as Grand Master. There were slides on Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Washington, D.C. Also slides on the George Washington Memorial Temple.
November 1, 1956 at this 100th stated communication the annual Ralph J. Pollard Night was observed. M.W. Bro. Aubrey L. Burbank, Grand Master and M.W. Bro, Ralph J. Pollard, P.G.M. were present. M.W. Bro. Pollard gave a very illuminative talk on the ancient landmarks. M.W. Bro, Burbank also spoke briefly.
December 17,1956 a Semi-Public Installation was held, R.W. Bro. Robert Carter, District Deputy of the sixth masonic district was the installing officer. The following wore installed for 1957:
| Robert E. Glidden, W.M. | Earl L. Hodgkins, J.D. |
| Donald S. Reed, S.W. | Harry R. Estes, S.S. |
| Carlton E. King, J.W. | John H. Mallett, J.S. |
| Edward H. Moore, Treasurer | Robert D. Whitney, Marshal |
| William D. Nickerson, Secretary | Gerald A. Hurd, Tyler |
| Wor, Sumner E. Bridges, Chaplain | Philip A. Ward, Organist |
| John A. Crook, S.D. |
Brothers raised to the Master Mason Degree in 1956 were:
| James G. Barrows | Robert D. Whitney |
| Eric A. Brennan | Gerald A. Hurd |
| Gilbert H. Colsom | Richard H. Getchell |
| Ernest L. Larson | Basil R. Pox |
| Rodney S. Pinkham | Earl P. Collins |
| Vaughn H. Holyoke | Rex P. James |
| Vernon E. Holyoke | Alexander L. Stymiest |
| Leslie M. Ohmart Jr. | Gordon M. MacEwen |
| Arthur L. Drew | James J. Jacobs |
| Arthur R. Tripp Jr. | Maynard L. McEwen |
| Leslie E. Grant | Reginald L. Estes |
| Harold B. Higgins | Arthur W. Murray |
| Philip A. Ward | Roy L. Arnold |
Brothers Who have passed on were:
Harold G. Maloon
Carl G. Pihlcrantz
Carlos S. Lindsey
Total membership as of December 6, 1966 was 280.
January 3,1957 the 102nd. stated communication was held under the direction of the newly installed Master Wor. Bro. Robert E. Glidden,
May 2,1957 at the 105th stated communication the members had the pleasure of the fine exemplification of the DeMolay Degree which was worked by the Bangor Chapter of the DeMolay,
November 7, 1957 the eighth annual Ralph J. Pollard Night and 109th stated communication was held. It was at this meeting that M.W.Bro. Ralph J. Pollard asked that R.W. Bro. John C. Condon be presented to the East and with a few well chosen words presented the lodge with a portrait of R.W. Bro. John C. Condon. M.W. Bro. Pollard then spoke to the lodge stating that the general condition of the craft universally is good.
December 20, 1957 a special communication was held for the Installation of the Officers. M.W. Bro. Aubrey L. Burbank was the installing officer. The following officers were installed for 1958:
| Donald S. Reed, W.M. | Harry H. Estes, J.D. |
| Carleton E. King, S.W. | John H. Mallett, S.S. |
| John A. Crook, J.W. | Robert D, Whitney,J.S. |
| Edward H. Moore, Treasurer | Raymond A. Glasser, Chaplain |
| Wor. Woodrow W. McLaughlin, Secretary | Reginald L. Estes, Marshal |
| Earl L. Hodgkins, S.D. | Alton L. Hadley Jr. Tyler |
Brothers raised to the Master Mason Degree in 1957 wore:
| Daniel S. Andrews | Walter N. Hall |
| James E. Crawford | Lawrence E. Ring Jr. |
| Robert P. Wiswell | James L. Burnett |
| Gerald T. Cox | Bryon E. Collins |
| Earl L. Turner | Alton L. Hadley Jr. |
| Harold H. Emery | Frank Smulligan |
| Raymond A. Glasser Jr. | Maurice C. Pushard |
| Robert D. Perkins | Louis P. Bissell |
| Clarence B. Dyer | Ralph A. Holyoke |
| Roger C. MacLeod | Raymond W. Sealey |
| Avon O. Severance | Edward A. Clark |
| Robert G. Lunt | Oscar L. Day |
| William A. Littlefield | Ralph E. Ladd Jr. |
Brothers who have passed on were:
George H. King
Leland B. Blake
Total membership as of December 5, 1957 was 301.
June 19,1958 Past Masters Night was observed. The following Past Masters and Brothers filled the chairs.
Wor. Bro. Woodrow McLaughlin as Master
Wor. Bro. Leland C. Mitchell as S.W.
Wor. Bro. Sumner P. Bridges as J.W.
Wor. Bro. Harry Greely as Treasurer Mystic Lodge No. 65
Wor. Bro. Louis C. Stearn III as Secretary Mystic Lodge No.65
Wor. Bro. Donald S. Reed as Chaplain
Wor. Bro. Robert E. Glidden as S.D.
Wor. Bro. Harry M. Murphy as S.D. Rising Virtue Lodge No.10
Wor. Bro. Carl W. Hatch as S.S. St. Andrews Lodge No. 83
Wor. Bro. Athelbert B. Crook as Marshal
Bro. Alton L. Hadley Jr. as Tyler
Bro. Warren Maddocks as Organist Mariners' Lodge No. 68
Wor. Bro. Harry Sargent at 1st. Gate Mystic Lodge No.65
Wor. Bro. William Leach at 2nd. Gate Rising Sun Lodge No.71
Bro. Fred R. Clark at 3rd. Gate
Bro. Wilbur B. Clark as Speaking Fellowcraft
Wor. Bro. Curtis Beatham the Masters Lecture St. Andrews Lodge No. 83
Wor. Bro. Athelbert B. Crook the Masters Emblems
September 18, 1958 Junior Wardens Night was observed to work the Entered Apprentice Degree, the following filled the chair
| Bro.John A. Crook as Master | Bro. Kenneth Rocker as S.S. |
| Bro. Irving Lake as S.W. | Bro. Milton Clement as J.S. |
| Bro. Robert Tapley as J.W. | Bro. James Ranney as Marshal |
| Bro. C. White as S.D. | Bro. Donald S. Reed as Chaplain |
| Bro. Merle Dunham as J.D. | Bro. Warren Maddocks as Organist |
Lessons by Bro. John H. Mallett and Bro, Kenneth Booker.
October 25,1958 School of Instruction for the Sixth Masonic District was held with Ralph J. Pollard Lodge as hosts Lodge was duly opened In the Master Mason degree by Wor. Bro. Donald S. Reed and a welcome was given to all the guests and brethren. Wor. Bro. Reed presented the gavel to M.W. Bro. Aubrey L. Burbank Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Maine. R.W. Bro. Horace A. Pratt DDGM of the Sixth Masonic District was present to assist M.W. Bro. Burbank. Instructions were given in all degrees. A large attendance of all Lodges was recorded.
November 6, 1958 at the 119th stated communication the Ninth annual Ralph J. Pollard Night was observed,, M.W.Bro. Ralph J. Pollard gave an address with highlights of Ralph J. Pollard Lodge's first ten years since it began. M.W, Bro. Pollard stated the five rules which ensure the success and prosperity of this lodge 1, Selection of Candidates, 2. High standard of Ritualistic work, 3. Keep a high degree of interest and attendance, 4. Avoid debt, 5. Adhere to the usage of the craft. There were 241 Brothers raised in the first ten years. M.W. Bro. Pollard also gave a few remarks on the Masonic Education Program and the Elder Brother part to be carried out by each lodge and member.
December 12, 1958 a special communication was held for the Installation of the Officers, M.W. Bro. Aubrey L. Burbank was the installing officer assisted by Wor. Bro. Norris. Smith as Grand Marshal and Wor. Bro. Herbert R. Sawyer as Grand Chaplain. The following were installed officers for 1959:
| Carlton E. King, W.M. | Maurice C. King, J.D. |
| John A, Crook, S.W. | John H. Mallett, S.D. |
| Earl L. Hodgkins, J.W. | Robert E. McCarver, S.S. |
| Edward H. Moore, Treasurer | Robert G.W. Lobley, J.S. |
| Wor. Woodrow McLaughlin, Secretary | Richard J. Andrew, Marshal |
| Eric A. Brennan, Chaplain | James N, McNamara, Tyler |
Brothers raised to the Master Mason degree In 1958 were:
| Richard H. Andrews | Robert E. McCarver |
| John H. Berry | Robert G.W. Lobley |
| James N. McNamara | Ted R. Lovely |
| Mervin S. Alley | Floyd A. Lindsey |
| Edward T. Blanchard | Kenneth MacLeod |
| Douglas A. Thompson | John B. Chalmers |
| Frank L. Ring | Sherman V. Grant |
Brothers passed on were:
Charles L. Tibbetts
Linwood G. Betts
Total membership as of December 5,1958 was 309.
February 5, 1958 it was voted to provide the Lodge Hall for Felicity Lodge No. 19 of Bucksport to work degrees.
April 2, 1959 at the 124th stated communication a committee was appointed to make a report as to the cost for a new tile ceiling In the lodge room.
April 30, 1959 Past Masters Night was observed. Officers filling the chairs were: Wor, Bro. Leland C. Mitchell as Master Wor. Bro. Sumner P. Bridges as S.W. Wor. Bro. Herbert R. Sawyer as J.W.
Wor. Bro. Everett Hewes as Treasurer Mystic Lodge No.65 Wor. Bro. Woodrow W. McLaughlin as Secretary Wor. Bro. Donald S. Reed as Chaplain Wor. Bro. Robert E. Glidden as S.D. Wor. Bro. John C. Condon as J.D. Bro. Warren B. Sargent as S.S. Bro. Robert G.W.Lobley as J,S. Wor. Bro. Athelbert B. Crook as Marshal Bro. James N. McNarmara as Tyler
Wor. Bro, Sumner P. Bridges gave the Masters Lecture Wor. Bro. Donald S. Reed gave the Chaplains Charge Wor. Bro. Herbert R. Sawyer gave a Special Charge
September 24, 1959 Junior Wardens Night was observed. Officers filling the chairs were:
Bro. Earl L. Hodgkins as Master
Bro. Kenneth Gray as S.W. Rising Sun Lodge No. 71
Bro. George Starman as J.W. Star in the East Lodge No. 60
Bro. Warren Young Jr. as S.D. Mystic Lodge No. 65
Bro. Arthur Homsted as J.D. Benevolent Lodge No. 87
Bro. Phillip Magil as S.S. Mechanics Lodge No.66
Bro. Floyd Higgins as Marshal Olive Branch Lodge No. 124
Bro. Eric A. Brennen as Chaplain
Bro. Phillip Magil gave the Third Lesson
Bro. Harry Estes gave the Second Lesson
November 5, 1959 the Tenth annual Ralph J. Pollard Night was observed. M.W. Bro. Ralph J. Pollard gave the brethren a very interesting talk on Membership and Attendance.
December 10, 1959 a special communication was held for the Installation of the Officers. M.W. Bro, Aubrey L. Burbank was the installing officer. The following were installed officers for 1960.
| John A. Crook, W.M. | Maurice C. King, S.D. |
| Earl L. Hodgkins, S.W. | Robert G.W.Lobley, J.D. |
| John H. Mallett, J.W. | Eric A. Brennan, S.S. |
| Edward H. Moore, Treasurer | Gordon M, MacEwen, J.S. |
| Woodrow W. McLaughlin, Secretary | Percy B. Cotton Jr.,Marshal |
| Robert R. Hall, Chaplain | Earl Booker, Tyler |
Brothers raised to the Master Mason degree in 1959 were:
| William E. Roberts | Floyd Kimball |
| Charles M. Lenig | Ralph H. Ward |
| Louis J. Shoemaker | Robert B. Thornton |
| Robert R. Hall | Merton G. Merry |
| Eldridge M. Hewey | James E. McIninch |
| LeRoy V. Clark | Milton G. Hersey |
| Lawrence Lait | Earl H. Booker |
| Nelson Sawyer | Percy B. Cotton Jr. |
| Charles H. King |
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