Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
75
Years of Scottish Rite Masonry
In
the Valley of Lawrence
Lawrence
in 1924
In
1924 Lawrence had a population of 94,000, Methuen 15,000, Andover 8,000, and
North Andover
6000. The Bay State Building was the largest office building north of Boston
“this side of Canada.” There were 15 post office substations in Lawrence.
The Grand Army of the Republic--Civil War veterans--was still meeting monthly at
Needham Hall. There were 10 lodges of Odd Fellows in Lawrence and 5 of the
Knights of Pythias. The Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway was operating
trolley cars to Essex Street from Methuen, Andover, and North Andover--and in
Lawrence on several lines: Berkley St., Lawrence Street, Water Street, Beacon
Street, Prospect Hill, the South Lawrence Belt Line; also to Haverhill, Lowell,
and the Beaches; to Salem via North Andover, and to Boston via Reading. At
Lawrence one could board a Boston and Maine train for Portland, Bangor, Halifax,
Worcester, New York or Philadelphia. In addition to Fords, Chevys, and
Chryslers, one could buy Auburns, Chalmers, Jewetts, Maxwells, Paiges,
Peerlesses, Pierce Arrows, Reos, and Velies from Lawrence automobile dealers.
A.B. Sutherland and Co., was the largest store in Lawrence. It advertised all merchandise usually connected with a department store, including groceries, sold through 35 departments, and featured two deliveries daily to the city, one every day to the surrounding towns. Its benevolent head, Andrew B. Sutherland, was president of the Lawrence Masonic Association.
Masonic Organizations in Lawrence in 1925
Percy
Mooar was Eminent Commander of Bethany Commandery, Gustavus Stachelhouse was
presiding officer of Lawrence Council of Royal and Select Masters, Herbert
L. Fletcher was High Priest of Mt. Sinai Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and
apparently not having enough to do with his time, also was the master of Tuscan
Lodge. He was an electrician. John E. McCrillis, B&M Railroad
yardmaster, was master of Grecian Lodge, and Arlon Adams, a druggist, was master
of Phoenecian Lodge.
It seems no coincidence that the completion of this Temple, which was dedicated on April 16, 1923, should so soon precede the arrival of Scottish Rite Masonry in Lawrence. The Masonic bodies had recently ended their 60-year sojourn in the Saunders Block on Essex Street. It was high time that all the branches of Freemasonry should be represented in Lawrence, and in the spacious precincts of its beautiful new Temple, the Fraternity now had enough room to house a Lodge of Perfection.
Organizing Meeting of Scottish Rite in Lawrence
On
the evening of 24 October 1924 sixty-five members of the Scottish Rite residing
in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover met at the Temple “to
consider if it was desirable and expedient” to organize a local Lodge of
Perfection. The inspiring genius that brought Scottish Rite Masonry to Lawrence
was vested in three friends, Illustrious Brothers Harry R. Dow, William Glover,
and Dean K. Webster, who in 1924 were prominent men in the area, Thirty-third
Degree Masons, and active in the Valley of Lowell.
Brothers Dow, Glover, Webster, and Archie Frost were named a committee to secure a dispensation to open a Lodge of Perfection in Lawrence and to make all the necessary arrangements. It was unanimously voted to name the new lodge “Lawrence Lodge of Perfection.” Evidently a good deal of spadework and skid greasing had already been accomplished because only two months later, on December 15, 1924, the Deputy, Illustrious Frederick W. Hamilton presented a dispensation and installed the first officers.
1st Meetings, January 1925
In January 1925 Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection worked the Fourteenth Degree at Lawrence and presented the Lodge with costumes for the work. In March the Lawrence officers conferred the Fourteenth Degree, and this ceremony was repeated at seven consecutive meetings until May 1926 when the Eighth Degree was performed by the first non-officer cast. The first “road show” came in November 1925 when the officers worked the Fourteenth Degree at Lowell. Deputy Hamilton constituted the Lodge and presented the charter in October 1926. Lawrence Lodge of Perfection is one of only ten in Massachusetts and the last to be constituted.
The effects of the Great Depression
The
Great Depression hit Lawrence Lodge with a vengeance, and during a period of
over two years, between 1933 and 1935, there were no initiations. Entertainment
was introduced at meetings about this time, and was a regular feature for many
years. Musical groups were popular, but travelogues and magicians were also
featured.
The Lodge’s regular caterer was Brother Alfred Weigel. The first reference to dinner charges was sixty-five cents in 1940. After-dinner cigars were a tradition for many years. In 1929 the Lodge spent $70 for cigars. By 1940 the Lodge had had trimmed this expense to $38. The Lodge participated in a joint outing with Lawrence Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1937 and in the same year all the bodies meeting in the Temple sponsored a carnival. The provision of a collation for the officers and cast was the obligation of the presiding officer until the late 1970s when the Valley assumed the expense.
World War II Years
During World War II the Lodge participated in the effort. It purchased War Bonds. It contributed to the Masonic Military Service Fund. A Past Presiding Officers Night was held in January 1944 and gives a picture of the meetings in those days. The Lodge was called to order at 5:48 p.m. Business was conducted. After a short recess Brother Waldemar Sjostrom conferred the Fourth to the Fourteenth Degrees, “excepting only the Ninth.” At 6:30 the Lodge was called from Labor to Refreshment. After dinner Brother T.E. Andrew, chairman of the local Red Cross War Fund, spoke to the Brethren and showed what the Secretary, Brother Elton True, described as “a propaganda picture for the American Red Cross. I might add,” Brother True wrote in the records, “that we welcome this type of propaganda.” At 8:10 p.m. the Lodge was called back to Labor, and conferred the Ninth Degree, whose cast was composed principally of Past Thrice Potent Masters and the Presiding Head, Brother Clifton F. Swain.
In
May 1945 we find Reverend Brother Egbert Jenkinson offering a moving prayer for
the completion of the war in Europe and a swift ending of the war against Japan.
For the next 25 years “Skipper” Jenkinson would be an ornament to the Lodge
and to Zion Council, being particularly remembered for his portrayal of Daniel
in the Fifteenth Degree.
As the war neared its conclusion, we find the first record of an enlightenment meeting “planned primarily for the newer third degree blue lodge Masons of this district.” The Arthur Prince Class assembled from the attendees received three Perfection degrees at a joint meeting with the Lowell and Haverhill Lodges in November 1945. This enlightenment meeting was repeated in Lawrence on November 1946 and 300 brethren sat down to dinner in this room on that occasion.
The 50's
In
May 1950 Ill. Dean K. Webster installed his son Dean as Thrice Potent Master and
expressed pleasure at having installed both his sons as presiding officer of the
Lodge.
The
Lodge sponsored “Journey’s End, ” a play given by the Consistory Players
at the Punchard High School Auditorium in October 1951. Brother J. Everett
Collins led the Andover Male Choir in a half-hour of vocal music preceding this
presentation.
A
joint meeting with the Scottish Rite bodies of Lowell and Haverhill was again
held in 1951. At this reunion the Lodge worked the 14th Degree,
Merrimack Valley Council of Haverhill the 15th Degree, and Mt.
Calvary Chapter of Lowell the 18th Degree. This event was repeated in
1956 and 1963, and was the inspiration for a similar cooperative day of Masonry
that occurred at Lowell just last April. Recently, we joined the Merrimack
Valley Lodge of Perfection in
Haverhill in a home and home presentation of the Tenth Degree.
In
1951 then Brother, later Illustrious, Cliff Emmons announced that the decision
had been made to give any blue lodge secretary in the district his membership in
the Lawrence Lodge of Perfection in return for the valuable services they
provided to the Lodge in certifying the Masonic standing of our candidates.
Indeed four of them, Charles C. Batchelder of John Hancock Lodge, Albert R. Day
of Tuscan, Calvin E. Metcalf of St. Matthew’s, and Kenneth A. Ryder of Grecian
made application soon after. It was further announced that their annual dues as
well as the annual dues of any other blue lodge secretary would be remitted so
long as they remained secretaries of their blue lodge.
Thrice
Potent Master Raeburn Hathaway noted in May 1958 that the Lodge had been
undercharging for the dinners at the prevailing price of $1.50. It is comforting
to note that forty years later nothing has changed but the price. Bachmann was
the Lodge’s caterer in the 1950s.
The Lodge was formed in the Prohibition Era. Nothing in the records indicates that the law was violated. The provision of a punch bowl before our meetings dates from March 1945 and seems to have taken the place of after dinner entertainment.
The Beginnings of The Council of Princes
For
several years interest had been building to expand the Valley by adding a
council of Princes of Jerusalem. The records describe Ill. Walter Webster as the
“guiding genius in the formation of the Council.” The road was not smooth;
in particular the Valley of Haverhill to whose council many of the Brethren
belonged, made strenuous objection to our request for dispensation. Nevertheless
we persevered, and on November 9, 1961 Acting Sovereign Grand Commander Emil
Dillenbach convened a special meeting of Supreme Council for the purpose of
instituting Zion Council. Lowell Council presented a gift of $4,000 to get us
off on a good footing. Walter Webster, the first Sovereign Prince, noted the
choice of “Zion” as the Council’s name, recalling the “Zion is my
home” line from the Fifteenth Degree.
One
week later Zion Council held its first meeting for conferring of the Fifteenth
and Sixteenth Degrees. The officers of the Council directed the Fifteenth
Degree. Taking part were Brothers Rae Hathaway as Cyrus, Ralph Duncan as
Zerubbabel, and Skipper Jenkinson as Daniel.
In March 1962 the Council portrayed the Sixteenth Degree for the first time. Ralph Woodcock gave the prologue, Ralph Duncan returned as Zerubbabel, Niall Fleming was Darius, Allen Flye was Artaban, Charles F. Dewhirst, Jr. Barticus, Rae Hathaway as Araspes. Goddard Council of Worcester presented the Ark as a gift to Zion Council.
The eleven Perfection degrees of course are central to the work of the Valley. There have been many gifts of costumes and equipment over the years. The Bible used by the Valley was given in 1949 by Mrs. Andrew B. Sutherland in memory of her husband. Heads of bodies come and go, but a core of administrative officers and degree workers provides continuity for the Valley. Our longest serving secretary was none other than Illustrious Tom Marjerison who was first elected in 1963 and served through the 1980s. Brothers Walter Lillis (1939-1960), Ralph Gilman, MSA, and Bob Hull share honors for longevity of service as treasurer. The position of Tyler has been occupied by only 6 men since 1924: William Paisley, William Hume, Henry Vogt (whose term of 28 years is truly remarkable), Jacob Ott, MSA, Robert Tozier, and Everett Wagner, MSA. The services of Illustrious Dick Gaskell and Brothers Ralph Brouck, Rudy Planitzer, and Dick Catteau as Hospitaler should not be overlooked.
The Directors of the Works
Up to the 1950s it was customary for one of the Lodge’s line officers to direct the degrees. Illustrious Walter Webster and Ralph Woodcock were the first of a corps of “professional” directors, among them Illustrious Brothers John Campbell, Niall Fleming, and Henry Ramm. Not only were their services in demand in Lawrence, but they were responsible for memorable work, along with Illustrious Brothers Ralph Duncan and Mike Takesian, as actors and directors in the Valley of Boston.
The Masters of the Wardrobe
Our
Masters of Wardrobe have the responsibility for outfitting our sometimes large
and unruly casts with the proper costume, footwear and headgear. The first
Master of Wardrobe was Bro. Ben Oldfield in 1929. After 17 years he was followed
by Illustrious Clifton Swain, Illustrious G. Clifford Emmons, and, most notably,
by Brother Webster F. Dennison, MSA, who held down the job for a stunning
thirty-five years, and keeps serving the Valley by assisting the current Master
of Wardrobe, Bro. Alfred R. Nault, MSA.
The Stage Managers
Our Stage Managers have devoted countless hours to the construction of sets, rigging up lighting, and generally making the degree directors look good. The position of Stage Manager was added to the list of officers in 1973, and the first stage manager and his assistant, Brothers Al Reynolds, MSA, and Harry Hall, MSA are still going strong after 26 years. More recently, they have been joined by Brother Gordon Dompier.
The Masters of Makeup
Our Masters of Makeup take everyday men and turn them into kings, satraps, and prophets—four times a year. Brothers Don Howarth, MSA, and Will Patterson, and Illustrious Brothers Adolph McLennan and Juli Emmert have faithfully served as Masters of Makeup in my memory. Maybe you can think of others.
The Organists
As I leaf through the records, the first permanent organist seems to have been Joseph Wilkinson in 1936. He was succeeded by Brothers Gardner Shaw, Raymond Bachmann, Donald Harrison, Archie Stancombe, Milton Kimmel, Fred Parks, Herbert W. Mower and Allan Zecchini, MSA. Ever loyal to the needs of the Valley, Zeke has also been our “prologist of choice” for several years.
Our
Great Actors
The members of the Valley have enjoyed the performances of many fine actors. Unfortunately, in any listing of memorable players, we are limited by our own experience. Mine dates from the late 1970s. All will agree that in that era since then Illustrious Ralph Duncan and Brothers Al Swenson, MSA, and Rick Dewhirst were paramount in the role of Zerubbabel. Illustrious Paul Lund, MSA, as Cyrus, Darius, and King Solomon. Brother James Johnstone, MSA, as Abazar. Brother Skipper Jenkinson, MSA, and Illustrious Mike Takesian as Daniel. But these are the big names; no production is possible without supporting characters who give it texture and variety. These are the men you can count on year after year to come out for the fellowship and excitement of the stage. Allow me to name a few who come to mind: Gordon Berry, Dick Catteau, Gary Conrad, Doug Cornell, Len Crouch, Arthur Dallon, Bob Dawe, Jim Deyermond, Dick Eldred, Don Ellsworth, Greg Freitas, Ralph Gilman, Tom Hargreaves, MSA, John Hay, Jim Henderson, Bob Hinckley, Harry Holman, Bob and Wes Hull, Stan Kay, Clif Milne, Joe Morley, Al Nault, Will Patterson, Joe Podgorsky, Court Posloszny, Tom Schnorrenberg, Russ Swartzenberg, George Thomson, Harry “the Torturer” Takesian, Dave Trombly, and Bob Zielstorff. Departed Brothers Bill Hovanasian and Gene Oldfield and Illustrious Brothers Harold Boynton, Juli Emmert and Dick Gaskell should be added to this list.
Money
Raising Activities
The Valley has traditionally relied on its dues income to finance its activities. For several years in the 1970s we sold fruit cakes during the Holiday Season with moderate success. As far as I have been able to determine, this was the only venture we have ever made into formal money-raising activities.
Our
Charities
As most of us know Scottish Rite supports four principal charities: Schizophrenia Research, the Museum of Our National Heritage, the Abbott Scholarships, and the Learning Centers. The Brethren of Our Valley have always been leaders in their supporting these important works. In terms of the percentage of members participating, the Valley of Lawrence regularly ranks first or second in the roll of Massachusetts Valleys.
Thanks
to our Members and Friends
History
in its rude and imperfect state is nothing but facts and dates of more than
passing interest to only a few. In putting it all together, however, the history
of Lawrence Lodge of Perfection and of Zion Council teaches two lessons. First,
we remember the dedication and hard work of those who have gone before us in the
Valley and by their example we are inspired to continue to build upon the
foundation they have laid. Second, we see that Scottish Rite, in giving men the
chance to widen their circle of Masonic friends, has enabled both our
predecessors and us to build lifelong friendships that are more than enough
reward for the time we have given to the Work. So mote it be.
Frederick
N. Nowell, III