The Portland daily press., 1862-06-26

The following historical Address was deliv-
cred by w. Master Moses Dodge, of Portland
Lodge, in the City Hall, on the occasion of the
Masonic celebration:
Brother Masons The time, the occasion
and the circumstances connected with it, have
conspired TO bring me before you as one of the
speakers on this memorable day. The princi-
pies, the teaching, the design and the mission
of Free Masonry, you are not tolearn from me-
II is my province simply to give you in the
few moments allotted me some of the historical
facts and chronological dates connected with
the introduction of Masonry into what is now
the State Of Maine, and its progress and pros
perity here. In doing so l must of necessity
bring to your notice Old Portland Lodge No.
i, formerly the lodge at Falmouth or "Fal-
mouth Lodge,') as a representative Of which
have the honor of appearing before this aug
ust assemblage.
Ancient Falmouth. the seat of the first char
tered Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons In
Maine then part of the old Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, originally included the city
OF Portland and the towns of Cape Elizabeth,
Falmouth and Westbrook. The population of
Falmouth in 1862 am not able to ascertain.
A note written on part of the back of letter
by Parson Smith, Sept. u, 1859, states that on
the Neck (now Portland proper) there were
"136 houses and % double families, in all 16S
families" From this data. the historian of
Portland, Hon. Mr.. Willis, fixes the population
of the Neck at that period at 900. In l784 the
population of Falmouth, by census taken that
year, was 3770, and that Of the Province of
Maine $4,000
The year 1762-between these dates-occu-
pies prominent position in our minds to-day,
but am not able to find any historical fact
connected with our Order during that year.
The records Of the Falmouth Lodge show
that on the 20th day of March, 1862. and of
Masonry 1852, the Right Worshipful Jeremiah
Gridley, ESQ.,. Grand Master of the Ancient
and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted
Masons in North America, granted to several
brethren of the society residing in Falmouth,
in the county of Cumberland. within the PROV,
ince of Massachusetts, Bay, IN order that .Ma-
sonry might increase and flourish in those
parts" warrant or constitution, nominating,
ordaining. constituting and appointing our II.
w. andwe-belovedB Bro. Alexander Ross. ESQ.
to be the first Master ofthe Lodge at Falmouth
and empowering him TO congreeate the Bretb.
ren together, form them into a regular lodge.
choose their Wardens and other officers. and
so annually, TO receive members and exercise
all the prerogatiyes of n chartered lodge.
This Deputatiop. as IL Is termed In the Lam
guage of that day. having been in aabeyancen
by reason of the sbusiness of BRO. Alexander
Ross. ESQ. being great and his infirmities
greater,n in December. l76S. a petjtion was
forwarded TO the r. w. John Rowe Fso-
Grand Master Of Masons for North America'
for a renewal of the Deputation and on March
so. 1869. and ON Masonry. 57t.,. sR. w John
Rowe. ESQ. Provincial Grand Master Of the
Ancient and honorabIe Socie,v Of r and
Masons for all North America where no other
Grand Master i anpointed . .bv yirtne Of tho
great trust mower and aufhor;iv renosed i,
him by his Grace the r w Henry Somorsat
Duke of ReauInrt and r. M ~ Masons d;j
renew the Denntst;on ~ cnn1roaa,a ,,,a i,ro,,,
rem Of Falmo,th form, then, ;atn "a, rar,,iar
Iodge with VIM Tyna ESQ as their srst
Master and emnowere5 them IN axarc;se ali
the nowars and ,rsror.t;ras ~ ohar,.ad M
Todge "
n l. a matter of regret that the ,ames of tho
first netitioners for n denntat;on or copst;tuS
tion are NOT on record There were eleven
names s;gned 10 tho net;t;on for ,ha ro,o,,al ns