[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1015-E1016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ``HAPPY 200TH BIRTHDAY TO FELLOWSHIP LODGE''

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                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 1997

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker. One of the most interesting 
aspects of representing Massachusetts is our history as one of the 
original 13 States, and as a place where much of America began.
  One great example of this is the Fellowship Lodge, A.F. & A.M. in 
Bridgewater, MA.
  On June 15 this lodge will celebrate its 200th anniversary. On that 
day in 1797, the grand master of Masons in Massachusetts went to the 
town of Bridgewater to present a charter to Fellowship Lodge, and that 
same charter remains in Fellowship Lodge in Bridgewater today. Of 
particular interest is that the grand master who made that trip is a 
man who made another, more well known trip in Massachusetts 20 years 
earlier--Paul Revere. And the man who organized the petition drive to 
open a lodge of Masons in Bridgewater, Hector Orr, preceded myself and 
my House colleagues to Washington.
  I congratulate the members of the lodge for their persistence in 
preserving this important part of our history. Massachusetts flourishes 
in part because our citizens recognize the value of maintaining our 
strong historical traditions even as we are pioneers in so many 
breakthrough technologies. It is I think of great note that the town of 
Bridgewater is the home both of this 200-year-old lodge, begun with a 
charter by Paul Revere when he was grand master

[[Page E1016]]

of Masons, and also the John Joseph Moakley Technology Center at 
Bridgewater State College, which is a state-of-the-art facility helping 
residents of the area master the latest in telecommunications skills. 
Mr. Speaker I ask that the history of this lodge, written by Luther 
Hayden, Jr., be printed here as an important example of how a community 
can nurture and be nurtured by its history.

                    Historical Highlights--1797-1972

                 (By Worshipful Luther L. Hayden, Jr.)

       The first record of any movement toward the formation of 
     the Lodge bears the date of October 1, 1796. At that time, a 
     group of Masons of the old town of Bridgewater, desirous of 
     having a meeting-place at or near their place of abode, 
     appointed a committee to present a petition to the nearest 
     Lodge. The petition was signed by Hector Orr, Charles Angier, 
     Josiah Otis, Noah Fearing, Isaac Lazell, Nathan Lazeli, and 
     Joseph Lazell. It was presented to Orphan's Hope Lodge of 
     Weymouth, asking for a recommendation to the Most Worshipful 
     Grand Lodge that it grant a charter for a lodge in 
     Bridgewater, to be called Fellowship Lodge.
       The first meeting of which we have a record was held at the 
     home of Brother Hector Orr, in the East Parish of 
     Bridgewater, on June 30, 1797. On October 2, officers of The 
     Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts came to Bridgewater, 
     and at that time Most Worshipful Paul Revere consecrated and 
     constituted Fellowship Lodge.
       The charter of Fellowship Lodge is dated June 15, 1797, and 
     is worthy of special mention. It is signed by Most Worshipful 
     Paul Revere. During his term of office, twenty-three new 
     lodges were formed, and several of these have their original 
     charter. Fellowship Lodge is one of these.
       In order to appreciate the period in which Fellowship Lodge 
     was formed, it would be well to note what was happening in 
     our country in 1797. George Washington had just completed his 
     second term, and in March, 1797, John Adams, second president 
     of the United States, had been inaugurated. The cornerstone 
     of the first Capitol building in Washington had just been 
     laid with elaborate Masonic ceremonies, in which George 
     Washington took part. The Town of Bridgewater was composed of 
     what is now Brockton, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and 
     Bridgewater.
       In 1835, due to the strong anti-Masonic feeling which 
     prevailed throughout this nation, the Lodge voted to suspend 
     its regular meetings. From 1835-1845, only one candidate 
     received the degrees. The charter was never surrendered 
     during this time. Tradition informs us that it was concealed 
     in the caves of the Jonathan Ames house on South Street in 
     West Bridgewater.
       Regular meetings were resumed in September, 1845, and a 
     period of lively Masonic activity took place. By 1868, 140 
     new members had been added to the rolls.
       In 1869, Fellowship Lodge purchased its first permanent 
     home, located on the site of the present Temple. In 1872, a 
     third story was added to form the lodge room which many of us 
     came to know so well.
       On June 15, 1897, the 100th Anniversary was observed. 
     Apparently the whole town participated, for a newspaper list 
     of decorated buildings includes practically all public and 
     commercial buildings, as well as many homes. The Most 
     Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Charles G. 
     Hutchinson, and many members of Grand Lodge were in 
     attendance. After an hour-long parade, an anniversary meeting 
     was held, followed by a banquet. the Reverend Dr. George C. 
     Lorimer, minister of Tremont Temple, delivered the principal 
     address. One report states that over 800 attended.
       In 1922, the 125th Anniversary was observed with a church 
     service, ladies' night, and a commemorative communication. 
     The grand Lodge was represented by the Right Worshipful 
     Senior Grand Warden.
       In 1936, according to Right Worshipful Herbert K. Pratt, 
     ``the Lodge was swept with a wave of dramatic fervor.'' The 
     Fellowship Players were organized, and for several years a 
     different play by Worshipful Carl H. Claudy was produced 
     annually. Invitations were received from far and wide, and 
     the Players traveled from Provincetown to Boston, appearing 
     before an estimated ten thousand Masons. During World War II. 
     the Players submerged, but every now and then they surface, 
     upon request, to reenact their perennial favorite ``A Rose on 
     The Altar.''
       On June 15, 1947, the Lodge celebrated its 150th 
     Anniversary with church services and a special communication. 
     Most Worshipful Samuel H. Wragg and several other Grand Lodge 
     officers were our guests. The observance ended with a banquet 
     at the Albert Gardner Boyden Gymnasium.
       At the February 24, 1964 meeting of the Lodge, a committee 
     was appointed to look into the advisability of either 
     remodeling the lodge building or erecting a new Temple. For a 
     number of years it had become increasingly apparent that 
     extensive repairs would have to be made to the old structure, 
     which had been the home of Fellowship lodge for nearly 100 
     years. The building was structurally weak and the lodge room 
     on the third floor was a potential firetrap. After 
     considerable study, by this committee and others that 
     follows, at the May 2, 1996 meeting, erection of a new 
     building on the same site was recommended and it was voted 
     to proceed with the project.
       The building committee then set to work in earnest. A 
     brochure was prepared showing plans for the proposed new 
     Temple, and at the June 6th communication a drive for funds 
     was initiated, with Brother Thomas Carroll, our oldest 
     member, making the first contribution. Arrangements were made 
     for the Lodge to meet in the quarters of Satucket Lodge in 
     East Bridgewaterr. Late in July, demolition of the old 
     building was begun. Construction proceeded with few 
     interruptions, and by the fall of 1967 the building was ready 
     for occupancy.
       September 7, 1967, was a Red Letter Day in the history of 
     Fellowship Lodge. On that day, officers of the Most 
     Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts came to 
     Bridgewater, and Most Worshipful Thomas A. Booth presided 
     over the laying of the cornerstone and dedication of the new 
     Temple. Masons from far and near taxed the capacity of the 
     lodge room to participate in the traditional Masonic 
     ceremonies. Then, on April 3, 1968, a mortgage-burning 
     ceremony proclaimed the Lodge's freedom from encumberances. 
     Thus, the hopes and plans of Fellowship Lodge came to 
     fruition, and another page added to the story of Masonry in 
     Bridgewater.
       No account of the building of the Temple would be complete 
     without credit being given to those whose efforts and 
     contributions made it possible. First, to the Building 
     Committee, who labored so tirelessly for a period of more 
     than two years, studying, planning, and finally supervising 
     the building construction. Second, to all those who 
     subscribed so generously to the drive for funds. Third, to 
     the memory of those whose gifts and bequests were largely 
     responsible for our being able to build without incurring 
     indebtedness: namely, Brothers Elmer Edson Kimball and John 
     Gardner Braman; Paul Revere, great-grandson of the signer of 
     our charter; Mrs. Flora T. Little, widow of Brother Walter S. 
     Little; and Mrs. Eleanor G. Reynolds, daughter of Brother 
     Harry H. Bragdon, Lodge treasurer for thirty-nine years. To 
     these, and many others, Fellowship Lodge owes a debt of 
     undying gratitude.
       For 175 years, Fellowship Lodge has survived through wars, 
     depressions and the anti-Masonic period, and has prospered. 
     It has become a recognized and respected influence for good 
     in the community. As a unit of a great Fraternity, 
     international in its scope, we should like to feel that it 
     has played its part in the promotion of Brotherly Love, 
     Relief and Truth to all men ``whereever dispersed over the 
     face of this earth.'' May God grant that its future be as 
     bright as its past.

     

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