ANNUAL COMMUNICATION. 1833.
The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Maine was holden at Masons' Hall in Augusta, on Thursday, the 17th day of January, A. D. 1833.
Present—M. W. NATHANIEL COFFIN, G. Master.
M. W. AMOS NOURSE, D. Grand Master.
R. W. DAVID C. MAGOUN, S. G. Warden, p.t.
R. W. REUEL WASHBURN, J. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. JAMES B. CAHOON, G. Treasurer.
R. W. ASAPH R. NICHOLS, Rec. G. Secretary.
R. W. JOSEPH CHANDLER, G. Marshal.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, S. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. CHARLES N. COGSWELL, J. G Deacon, p. t.
R. W. DAVID NEAL, G. Steward, p. t.
R. W. RUFUS C. VOSE, G. Steward.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
R. W. ZINA HYDE, from the Fourth District.
R. W. FREDERICK CLARK, from the Eighth District.
Lodges represented:
| Portland, | by | James B. Cahoon. |
| Ancient Land Mark, | by | Jonathan Smith. |
| Freeport, | by | Theodore Curtis. |
| Hermon, | by | Thomas Gilpatrick, Jr. |
| Solar, | by | David C. Magoun. |
| Orient, | by | Peter Vigoureaux. |
| St. George, | by | George Sproule. |
| Village, | by | Moses Safford, Jr. |
| Washington, | by | Jabez Mowry. |
| St. John's, | by | Charles N. Cogswell. |
The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form. Prayer by Rev. Frederick Clark of Saco.
Proceedings of the last Annual Meeting were read by the Recording Grand Secretary.
Proceeded to the choice of officers.
R. W. Bro's Benjamin Davis, Rufus C. Vose and Charles N. Cogswell were chosen a Committee to receive, sort and count the votes for Grand Officers to be elected by ballot; who having attended to the duty assigned them, reported the following Brethren to be duly elected, viz :
M. W. NATHANIEL COFFIN of Wiscasset, G. Master.
R. W. JOHN L. MEGQUIER of Portland, S. G. Warden.
R. W. DAVID C. MAGOUN of Bath, J. G. Warden.
R. W. ASAPH R. NICHOLS of Augusta, R. G. Secretary.
R. W. Rufus C. Vose, Benjamin Davis and Zina Hyde, Committee on Finance.
The Committee to whom was referred a resolve in 1831, requiring that every subordinate lodge shall pay annually for the support of the Grand Lodge, one eighth of a dollar for each member constituting such lodge, such dues to be collected and paid into the Treasury of the Grand Lodge conformable to the By-Laws, were discharged from the further consideration thereof, and the same was referred to R. W. Reuel Washburn, Zina Hyde and James B. Cahoon.
R. W. Brothers David C. Magoun, Zina Hyde and Charles N. Cogswell were appointed a Committee on Foreign Correspondence.
The Committee to whom was referred, at the last Annual Communication, a communication from Kennebec Lodge, were discharged from the further consideration of that subject, and the same was referred to R. W. Robert P. Dunlap, Reuel Washburn, David C. Magoun, Amos H. Hodgman, Zina Hyde and Joseph Chandler, with instructions to report at the adjournment of this meeting.
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Communication from St. John's Lodge, was read and referred to R. W. David C. Magoun, Amos Nourse and Zina Hyde, to wit:
To the Grand Lodge of Maine :
The undersigned, members of St. John's Lodge, No. 61, in South Berwick, would respectfully represent that they received a charter from the Grand Lodge in the early part of the year A. L. 5827; that the lodge then consisted of only a few members and was destitute of funds; that those few, actuated by a desire to promote the cause of masonry and the good of masons, incurred a considerable number of expenses, which are necessarily incident to the commencement of every lodge, in paying the Grand Lodge for its charter, and in purchasing the necessary jewels, working tools and furniture for the lodge; that during the first year of the existence of our Lodge several persons made application and were accepted and initialed into the mysteries of Masonry. Encouraged by the good opinion of masonry which seemed to prevail in the public mind here at that time, and induced thereto by our increasing numbers, we, by great exertions and much expense succeeded in causing a Masonic Hall for our accommodation to be erected in the latter part of the year A. L. 5827; in consecrating which and in installing the officers of the lodge at that time, we were induced to incur additional expenses of music, &c., thinking thereby we should exert a favorable influence on the public mind in favor of masonry. And we have regularly paid our dues to the Grand Lodge since we received our charter, amounting to nearly $100.
To meet and liquidate all of the above mentioned expenses and many others which have not been named, we have been obliged to hire a considerable sum of money, and thereby get in debt.
This circumstance being generally known to masons in this vicinity, and the anti-masonic influence which has prevailed here, have not only deterred persons from becoming masons, but have prevented those who were masons from becoming members of our lodge, and have also induced many members to leave it. Consequently we have had no work to do for more than a year, and but little since the first year of our existence as a lodge; and our lodge being small, consisting of only twelve members at the present time, our quarterages have hardly paid our expenses from year to year for carrying on our business. Being thus situated, in debt, having no funds and but few members, about a year ago the holders of some of the notes due from the lodge called on us for payment. Those who had been members, but who had left the lodge in consequence of its debts, refused to contribute anything; consequently the few members then belonging to it, who had determined to remain by the lodge through good and evil report, had to pay the debts which then pressed, amounting to $238, by contribution among themselves. There still remains due from the lodge $150, the payment of which is now requested, and which will have to be paid by still fewer than before, unless assistance can be procured from the Grand Lodge. We would therefore, in view of the
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above facts, respectfully request the Grand Lodge to assist us in the payment of the last mentioned sum, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
(Signed.) Hiram H. Hobbs, Simon Foss, Theo. F. Jewett,
John Frost, John Goodwin, Chas. N. Cogswell.
South Berwick, June 20, 1832.
Communication from Hermon Lodge was read and referred to R. W. Reuel Washburn, David C. Magoun, Amos H. Hodgman, Zina Hyde and Joseph Chandler, viz:
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Maine.
The memorial of the undersigned, members of Hermon Lodge, Gardiner, would respectfully represent,
That we were all of us initiated, or received various degrees in Masonry at the Kennebec Lodge in Hallowell, and in consideration thereof paid the customary fees to the Treasurer of said lodge, thereby contributing a large amount to the funds of the same.
That these contributions were made with the express understanding and under solemn stipulations that they should be appropriated to Masonic purposes, and to no other.
Your memorialists would further represent that we are informed that the members of said Kennebec Lodge, having abandoned the cause of Masonry, have perverted the entire funds of said lodge to purposes not authorized by their charter, by placing them out of the control of the Masonic Institution.
Being desirous that the amount by us contributed should be restored to the Masonic Institution and appropriated to its legitimate objects, the undersigned have thought fit to present this memorial, requesting the advice and assistance of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, to enable us to recover back from the funds of Kennebec Lodge, if the same are available, an equitable proportion of the amount by us contributed, that the same may be placed at the disposal of the lodge with which we are connected, a lodge which has never wavered in the faith of Masonry, or despaired of its cause.
(Signed.) Benjamin Shaw, Ebenezer White, Jas. Bowman, David Neal, W'm Partridge,
Daniel Clay, Robert Gould, E. F. Deane, James Tarbox, Cyrus Kindrick,
Abner Small, Thomas Gilpatrick, John Stone, John Haseltine,
Freeborn Graves, Seth Gay, Ichabod Wentwokth,
Daniel Woodward, Peter Vigoureaux, Ezekiel Holmes.
Gardiner, January 17, 1833.
Report from the District Deputy Grand Master of the Fourth Masonic District, was read and placed on file.
A verbal report or statement was made by the District Deputy Grand Master of the Eighth Masonic District, in which he gave
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an interesting account of the truly Masonic spirit which prevails throughout that District.
A motion in writing was made by R. W. Frederick Clark, instructing the District Deputy Grand Masters as to the times of visiting subordinate lodges in their respective districts, which was read and committed to R. W. Rufus C. Vose, Joseph Chandler and Zina Hyde.
Voted, That when this Grand Lodge adjourn, it adjourn until to-morrow evening at seven o'clock.
And the Grand Lodge then adjourned.
Attest, ASAPH R. NICHOLS, Rec. G. Secretary.
Stevens's Hall, Augusta, Jan. 18, A. D. 1833.
The Grand Lodge met agreeably to adjournment.
Present—M. W. NATHANIEL COFFIN, G. Master.
R. W. SAMUEL G. LADD, S. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. ZINA HYDE, J. G. Warden, p. t.
R. W. JABEZ MOWEY, G. Marshal p.t.
R. W. MOSES SAFFORD, Jr., G. Treasurer p. t.
R. W. ASAPH E. NICHOLS, Rec. G. Sec'y.
R. W. PETER VIGOUREAUX, S. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. THOMAS GILLPATRICK, J. G. Deacon, p. t.
R. W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, G. Steward, p. t.,
R. W. PETER TALBOT, G. Steward, p. t.,
Lodges represented as yesterday.
The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form.
Proceedings of the last meeting were read by the Recording Grand Secretary.
The Grand Master was then pleased to make the following appointments, which were announced by the Grand Marshal, viz:
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R.W. REUEL WASHBURN, of Livermore, Deputy Grand Master.
R.W. ISAAC G. REED, of Waldoborough, Cor. Grand Secretary.
R.W. JESSE ROBINSON, of Augusta, Grand Marshal.
R.W. Rev. SAMUEL JOHNSON, of Saco, Grand Chaplain.
R.W. Rev. FREEMAN PARKER, of Wiscasset, Grand Chaplain.
R.W. Rev. MOSES SPRINGER, Jr.,.of Gardiner, Grand Chaplain.
R.W. EBENEZER HILTON, of Wiscasset, S. G. Deacon.
R.W. C. N. COGSWELL, of South Berwick, J. G. Deacon.
R.W. BENJAMIN DAVIS, of Augusta, Grand Steward.
R.W. THOMAS W. SMITH, of do. Grand Steward.
R.W. THOMAS GILPATRICK, of Gardiner, Grand Steward.
R.W. AMOS H. HODGMAN, of Warren, Grand Steward.
R.W. OLIVER GERRISH, of Portland, G. Sword Bearer.
R.W. WILLIAM PARTRIDGE, of Gardiner, G. Pursuivant.
R.W. OLIVER S. HARTSHORN, of Portland, G. Pursuivant.
R.W. FREDERICK WINGATE, of Augusta, Grand Tyler.
The foregoing officers, except those reappointed, were duly installed by the M. W. Grand Master, either by themselves or Proxies.
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS.
First District—R. W. John C. Humphreys, of Brunswick.
Second District—R. W. Stephen Emery, of Paris.
Third District—R. W. Rufus C. Vose, of Augusta.
Fourth District—R. W. Zina Hyde, of Bath.
Fifth District.—R. W. Hezekiah Williams, of Castine.
Sixth District—R. W. Oliver N. Allen, of Lubec.
Seventh District—R. W. David Shepherd, of Sebec.
Eighth District—R. W. Frederick Clark, of Saco.
R. W. Reuel Washburn submitted the following report:
The Committee to whom was referred a resolution, proposed by R. W. William Swan at the Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge, held at Portland on the twentieth day of January, A. D. 1831, requiring "that from and after that time every subordinate lodge shall pay annually for the support of the Grand Lodge, one-eighth of a dollar for each member into the Treasury of the Grand Lodge, conformably to the By-Laws as originally adopted,"—have had the same under consideration and ask leave to report. That said resolution was committed to an intelligent Committee of the Grand Lodge at the time the same was proposed, who on the same evening reported unanimously in favor of its final adoption; recommending however that notice should be given to the subordinate lodges that the further consideration of said resolution, by which an alteration in the existing By-Laws of the Grand Lodge was
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contemplated, would be had at the next meeting of the Grand Lodge, which was held at Augusta in January, 1832. And your Committee further report that said resolution, through mistake and accident, was not called up at their said meeting; and the question has arisen whether it be proper and expedient at the present time to take into consideration said resolution and carry into effect the object contemplated thereby. Inasmuch as the subordinate lodges had notice and did not appear to make objections at our last annual meeting, your Committee can see no good reason why the said resolution should not be definitely acted upon at this meeting, and we are clearly of opinion that it is expedient to adopt the same, and make it a part of our By-Laws. If subordinate lodges consider Masonry to be worth anything, they will not object to paying their proportion of the charges which are necessary in order to keep the institution in a healthful state, and if they are satisfied that Masonry has become useless and is not deserving the countenance and encouragement of the brethren, it is time their charters should be surrendered and the Grand Lodge be relieved from the discharge of its duties to such of the subordinate lodges.
Your Committee therefore recommend the adoption of said resolve, first amending it so that it shall take effect from and after the present time, and that the Recording Grand Secretary give immediate notice to the subordinate lodges of the adoption of this regulation.
All which is respectfully submitted.
January 18, 1833. R. WASHBURN, per order.
Which report was read and accepted, and the resolve adopted.
R. W. David C. Magoun presented the following report, viz:
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence have attended to the duty assigned them, and ask leave to report:
That they have examined communications received from the Grand Lodges of Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey and Kentucky; and while they witness in all those communications, with great pleasure the gratifying evidence that Masonry continues to enjoy throughout the United States, the undiminished confidence of its original friends and supporters; sustaining its high character for virtue, benevolence and usefulness; and that few, if any, are deterred by the late excitement against the institution, from expressing their full belief and entire conviction in the eventual re-establishment of the prosperity of the Craft, and of the extended influence and satisfactory effect of that charity, which is founded in the universal beneficence of our Great Grand Master, and constitutes a principal rule of action for all good Masons,
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they at the same time do not perceive any matters or subjects requiring the special notice or action of the Grand Lodge.
All which is respectfully submitted.
Augusta, Jan. 18, A. L. 5833.
DAVID C. MAGOUN, per order.
The foregoing report was read and accepted.
The Committee on Finance, by the Chairman, made the following report :
The Committee on Finance, having attended to the duties assigned them so far as to examine the Treasurer's Report, ask leave to report as follows There has been paid by the Grand Treasurer the following sums:
| To S. L. Valentine, for installing Mosaic Lodge, | $10.00 | |
| To J. & W. E. Edwards, | 3.75 | |
| To Fraternal Lodge, | 50.00 | |
| To E. Wingate, | 20.00 | |
| To E. Clark, | 25.99 | |
| To Z. Hyde, | 11.75 | |
| To Printing, | 16.37 | |
| To Postage, | 3.65 | |
| To Secretary &c, | 40.42 | |
| To Treasurer, | 30.00 | |
| $211.93 | ||
| There has been received by him, | ||
| Of J. Herrick, | $58.39 | |
| Of Lafayette Lodge, | 2.00 | |
| Of Portland, | 6.00 | |
| Of Orient, | 25.25 | $91.64 |
| Balance against the Grand Lodge, | $120.29 |
There has been received by the Treasurer,
Interest on account of the Charity Fund, $291.14. Should the Grand Lodge borrow from the Charity Fund the sum of $120.29, due the Treasurer, there would be $170.85 applicable to relief.
All which is respectfully submitted.
RUFUS C. VOSE, per order.
Which report was read and accepted.
Voted, That the Grand Treasurer be authorized to borrow from the Charity Fund one hundred and twenty dollars and twenty-nine cents, to pay the debt due from the Grand Lodge, as represented in the report of the Committee on Finance.
The following report was submitted, viz :
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The committee of the Grand Lodge to whom was submitted the communication of the Kennebec Lodge at Hallowell, making a surrender of their charter, and to whom was also submitted the memorial of several members of the Hermon Lodge at Gardiner, in relation to the disposition which the Kennebec Lodge has made of its funds, and praying the assistance of the Grand Lodge in recovering back an equitable proportion of these funds to be at the disposal of the Hermon Lodge, having given to these subjects all the consideration which the time allowed would permit, ask leave to report as follows :
We have examined the records of the Kennebec Lodge, which are surrendered with their charter; and thereby, as well as by the information of the Committee of that lodge, find, that on the 19th day of July, A. D. 1831, all the funds of the lodge, after payment of its debts and making several charitable bequests, were, by virtue of several resolutions and a deed made and executed in pursuance thereof, placed in the hands of Amos Nourse, Samuel G. Ladd, Andrew Masters, Daniel Wadsworth, Isaac Gage, John D. Lord, Silvanus W. Robinson, Simon Page and Charles Vaughan, Jr., as Trustees, to be by them improved and appropriated for charitable uses, according to the original purpose for which they had been raised; and were it not, that we do not find in these proceedings of the lodge sufficient security provided for the regular administration of this Charity Fund according to the truly liberal and Masonic design of the donors, we should at once recommend the acceptance of their charter as offered, but we do not find upon the record any evidence of the acceptance of the Trust created by their resolutions, nor do we find either in the record or deed of trust any provision for the regular annual accounting of these Trustees for the proper management and disposition of this Charity Fund. We do find a provision for their ultimate accountability to the Trustees of Hallowell Academy, who are constituted by the Resolves and deed of the lodge, Trustees of the fund instead of the nine individuals above named— provided these individuals shall abuse their trust, or all decease before its final distribution. But this Academy is by its incorporation a merely Literary Institution, and if it have the legal power to charge itself with such a Trust, cannot be supposed either to have or feel sufficient interest in the execution of it to induce them to accept that trust and perform the duty of watching over the distribution of a purely Masonic Charity Fund: for such purpose the Grand Lodge appears to be specially incorporated by the State. In view of all the circumstances in the case, we therefore recommend that the acceptance of the charter of the Kennebec Lodge be postponed till the next Annual Communication ; and if in the meanwhile it shall be properly signified to the Grand Lodge that the nine Trustees appointed by the Kennebec Lodge have accepted the trust reposed in them, and will hold themselves accountable to the Grand Lodge for its faithful execution in the same manner and degree as they would be accountable to the Trustees of the Hallowell Academy, provided the Trustees of said Academy had accepted the trust and assumed the responsibilities contemplated for them—then and in such case the doings of the
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Kennebec Lodge, in thus disposing of their funds be approved, and the charter accepted, and also, that this Grand Lodge will hereafter consider itself as standing in the same relation to the said nine Trustees, and the survivors of them, as the Trustees of the Hallowell Academy would stand towards them, had they made themselves parties to these proceedings, and will accordingly receive the regular reports of said nine Trustees, as to the disposition they shall from time to time make of their funds, and discharge towards them all such duties, and exercise over them all such powers as it was obviously intended the Trustees of the Academy should discharge and exercise, in order to carry into full effect the benevolent intentions of the lodge. And in regard to the memorial of sundry members of Hermon Lodge at Gardiner, claiming a portion of the funds of Kennebec Lodge, your Committee are unable to perceive that the said Memorialists have any just or legal claim to any share in said funds any more than the members of other subordinate lodges; and it is believed that the Grand Lodge have no right to interfere to effect the object of the petitioners.
All which is respectfully submitted,
REUEL WASHBURN,
DAVID C. MAGOUN
ZINA HYDE,
JOS. CHANDLER,
Committee, Augusta, Jan. 18, 1833.
Which report was read and accepted, and the Recording Grand Secretary directed to furnish the Chairman of said nine Trustees with a copy of the same.
The following report was submitted, to wit:
The Committee to whom was referred the petition of sundry brethren, members of St. John's Lodge, praying aid from the Grand Lodge in relieving them from their pecuniary embarrassments, have had the same under consideration, and report:
That the case of the petitioners seems to your Committee to be one of peculiar hardship—one that calls for the sympathy of the Grand Lodge, and not only for their sympathy, but for substantial relief at their hands, if they have power to grant it consistently with the present condition of their Treasury, and consistently too with the paramount regulations of the Grand Lodge, which every Mason, as well as every member of the Grand Lodge, must of course consider sacred. Your Committee find on inquiry that the G. Lodge have at present no funds at their disposal even to meet the ordinary current expenses, that in consequence of this deficiency they have been obliged to borrow, and now stand indebted to the Charity Fund from 400 to 500 dollars. This fund it will be recollected is under the charge of Trustees, who are authorized
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to appropriate the annual proceeds in charity to " poor and distressed brethren, their widows and orphans," but " no part of the principal of said fund " is to " be expended for any purpose whatever." Under these circumstances your Committee do not see how it is possible for the Grand Lodge, however much they may desire it, to comply with the wishes of the petitioners in relieving them from their present embarrassments. They therefore recommend the adoption of the following Resolution.
Resolved, That the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge and the present condition of its Treasury render it wholly impracticable for it to make a donation, even to relieve the urgent embarrassments of the members of St. John's Lodge. All which is respectfully submitted,
Augusta, Jan. 18, 1833.
A. NOURSE, per order.
Which report was accepted and the resolution adopted. R. W. Rufus C. Vose submitted the following report:
The Committee to whom was referred the subject of instructing the District Deputy Grand Masters as to the times of visiting subordinate lodges, have considered the subject, and ask leave to report:
That it be specially enjoined on the District Deputy Grand Masters, to visit all the lodges within their respective Districts, and repeat their visits during the year if it shall be deemed useful or necessary, to collect the dues to the Grand Lodge, and make report thereof to the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and that for this purpose the Grand Secretary furnish the District Deputy Grand Masters with the necessary blanks immediately. All which is respectfully submitted,
RUFUS C. VOSE, per order.
Which report was accepted.
The following R. W. Brethren were chosen by ballot as Trustees of the Charity Fund instead of R. W. Bro's Fessenden, Swan and Granger, viz: Amos Nourse of Hallowell, Joseph M. Gerrish of Portland and William Partridge of Gardiner.
Voted, That the Recording Grand Secretary cause the proceedings of this Grand Lodge to be printed.
The Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form.
Attest, ASAPH R. NICHOLS, Rec. G. Secretary.
The G. Master requests the District G. Masters to report the state of all the lodges in their respective Districts in season to be laid before the G. Lodge at their next Annual Communication. Returns of lodges are to be dated on the first day of September annually. District G. Masters have from that day till the time of meeting in January to make their visits and procure returns, and, as they have the power of appointing as many substitutes as are necessary to perform this service, it is confidently hoped this important duty will be fully done. Since the last meeting reports have been made to the G. Master from all the Districts but two. So soon as all are received, a communication will be made by him to the District G. Masters, and through them to the lodges under their care.
The following brethren compose the Board of Trustees of the Charity Fund :
M. W. Nathaniel Coffin, Grand Master, ex-officio.
R. W. Reuel Washburn, Deputy Grand Master, ex-officio.
R. W. John L. Megquier, Senior Grand Warden, ex-officio
R. W. David C. Magoun, Junior Grand Warden, ex-officio
R. W. Asaph E. Nichols, Recording Grand Secretary,
R. W. Amos Nourse.
R. W. Joseph M. Gerrish.
R. W. William Partridge.
R. W. Robert P. Dunlap.
R. W. Benjamin Davis.
R. W. Henry W. Fuller.
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