The Republican journal., 1892-10-06
Thomas c. Porter, p. G. NJ, p. c. p,
z. G.. Rep. of Mass.
From the Odd Fellows REGISTER. ]

Z. &. Rep. of Mass.
From the Odd Fellows Register
This worthy brother is one of the talk
ers. workers and stayers of the Order in
the old Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
He was born in Belfast, Me-, Mar. %,
1921. Although he is in the I'D year of
his age he might readily pass for &c. He
has been faithful worker in the Order
for 4S years, yet he neither tires of talking
for nor working in it. He is as ardent in
his devotion to its best interests, and as
Jealous in promoting its harmony and
guarding its reputation now, as when L
first met him and made his acquaintance
about % years ago.
He migrated from Belfast to Boston in
1910, and was initiated in Saloam Lodge,
No. 2, in Boston, March !, 1914, and in
Trimount Encampment, No. 2, in 1916.
He was installed Vice Grand in January,
1851 and Noble Grand in July of the same
wear in No. 2, and received the Grand
Lodge degree, Aug. ). 1852. Aug. B,
1854 he was admitted to a seat in the
Grand Lodge as a regular Representative
of Lodge No. ?.
Having passed the chairs in Trimount
| Encampment in due course of time and
/
| campment and became a Grand Patriarch
in 1859. In 1867 he was elected Grand
| Treasurer of the same body. In 1861 he
was elected Representative from the Grand
! Encampment to the G.. l.. of I. s., and
served on the committee on printing, also
in 1862. Aug. &, 1868, he was elected
Deputy Grand Master and Aug. ), 1862
installed into the office of Grand Master
| AS to his effectiveness and efficiency as
the executive head of the great iuris
diction in his charge, may be inferred
from the record of his administration. He
visited sixty of his Lodges, officially in
stituted ten, dedicated seven halls and at
tended fifteen anniversaries. Never for
getting that he owed his honors and pres
| tige in the Order to his subordinates, he
never neglected his Lodge and Encamp
ment, but served both many years as their
Trustee, ever ready to lend a helping hand
where needed, and to fill a vacancy when
| required.
| In August, 1870, he was elected by his
| Grand Lodge to serve as Grand Represen
tative to the g. l.. of U. $. for two years
and was appointed on the committee on
finance. In 1871 at the Chicago session he
was made chairman of the same commit
| tee.
In 1872 G Rep. c. Wadleigh, of Mass,
| having resigned as such Sept. 9th, P. G.
Rep. Porter was elected by the Board of
Grand officers of Grand Lodge to fill the
vacancy for one year. At this session he
was selected to serve on the judiciary
| Committee.
Aug. 10, 1873, G. Rep. \. B. Plimpton
resigned the position held by him one
year. The Board of Grand Officers of
Grand Lodge again elected p. G. Rep. the
Porter to fill the vacancy for one year.
and he served on the committee on the
| History of Odd Fellowship in that body
/ In 1874 he was again fortunate in the
selection made by the Board Of Grand
Officers to fill the vacancy for one year OF
G.. Rep. Geo. B. Hamlin, resigned. AS
this board was subject to the changes of
| the annual elections for Grand Officers.
Bro. Porter repeated election to fill va
cancies in the representation in the Ma
tional Body may be taken as an evidence
OF his popularity with the Board and his
ability to serve its Grand Lodge and the
jurisdiction with fidelity and honor Nor
was the &. l.. Of [. 5. unmindful of his
zeal and Judgment, for at the Atlantic
session he was placed on the judiciary
Committee, the second in order and in i'm
portance.
Since his return from the Sovereign
Grand Lodge he has been present as a Wis
itor during the sessions held in Philadel-
phia in 1876, Baltimore in 1882, Provi-
dence i'll 1883 and Boston in 1886.
Feb. >. 1SS2, he was elected one of the
Trustees of the Grand Lodge funds and he
has held the position continuously to date
and executed the trust to the satisfaction
of the Fraternity in Massachusetts.
He was deeply interested in and an ac-
tive advocate and worker for he Odd Eel
low Home. located at Worcester, Mass,
from its incipiency and never failed to
render it a service when and where oppor-
tunity offered. He has also done good
work on the Committee on Laws of Sub
ordnates for his Grand Lodge and is
faithful and punctual attendant upon all
sessions of both Grand Bodies of Mass.
He has been a close and valued friend of
the veteran Grand Secretary, Charles d.
Cole. During the prolonged affection, of
the latter, through impaired sight (being
nearly blinGD p. G. NJ. Porter has been
more than a brother to him. helping him
in his work and rendering him at all times
Jonathan love and service.
His long and earnest work in the Order
marked as it has been with the high
est official honors that can be bestowed
by a Grand Jurisdiction, forms a record
worthy not only of the highest praise of
the older members, but of the imitation
and emulation Of the younger brothers to
whom the Order must look for it's future
welfare, prosperity and growth.
MEDOLE.