The Portland daily press., 1895-05-09

| authOriZed; also during the Masonic
year the bylaws were adopted; 1.-The
diploma plate accepted; six trustees OF
the charity fund elected, Albion K.
Paris, Charles Fox, Daniel Granger,
Peleg Chandler, Nathan Western, Jede-
diah Herrick, and three lodges at Som
erset, NoTridgewock, at Bethlehn, Au-
gusta t Casco and North Yarmouth au-
thorized. Grand Master King having
been appointed commissioner under the
treaty with Spain, ceding Florida to
the United States. resigned the ofnce or
| Governor May 2S, 1921, Bro. VIM. d. Will
Hanson, president of the Senate, became
the Governor. and Deputy Grand Mas
| ter Greenleaf acted as Grand Master, and
was elected Grand Master at the annual
communication, January, 1922. At the
| same communication charters were
granted TO Washington Lodge at Lubec;
Harmony Lodge at Gorham, Penobscot
charters were granted to Lygonia Lodge
at Ellsworth and Morning Star Lodge
at Litcheld. III 1928 an order of cere-
| monies was adopted to be observed in
lodges receiving official visits from D. d.
u. Masters and other Grand officers.
barters were granted for Freedom
Lodge at Parsonsfeld, Alma Lodge at
Alma Piscataquls Lodge at Lubec. The
commltte' on the subject of General
Grand lodge of the United States in a
long and able communication, reported
adversely. AT the annual communica-
tlon, January, 1924, Grand Master Green
leaf declined reelection and made a
valedictory address. He was chosen n
Trustee OF the charity fund. VIM Swan
was elected Grand Master. The commit
tee on the question whether the Masonic
degrees can be conferred on affirmation
without oath, made a favorable report,
which WAS accepted. AT the quarterly
conmunicati in April charters were
granted to Central Lodge in China and
St. Croix Lodge at Calais. In 1925
committee of nine, of which Grand Mas
ter Swan was chairman, was appointed
TO present an address to our brother,
General Lafayette on his arrival in Port
land.
Following Mr.. Burnham's address
came historical "reminiscences Senior
Past Grand Master Hiram Chase of Bel
fast
P.GM. HIRAM CHASE'S ADDRESS.
The "Reminiscences of Early Mem
bers" was given by Past Grand Master
Hiram Chase, of Belfast. A few ex-
tracts from Mr.. Chase's interesting ad-
dress follow:
At the time OF my first visit to the
Grand Lodge, the Craft mad just emerged
from the dark cloud of Anti Masonry
under whose shadow they had lain DOR
mant for SO many years. Many of our
lodges had not resumed work and the
attendance upon the Grand Lodge was
small. During this period, all our Lodg-
es suspended work and but few held
meetings, the result was after resuming
work the brethren Ito use common
phrase) found themselves very rusty. As
there were very few or no rituals, they
were obliged to depend upon their
memory, consequently there came into
use a great diversity of work, not in the
great and prominent land mark. but in
the minute detail and as each brother
was tenacious of his recollections this
resulted in a yearly controversy as to
the right; and these differences became
the subject of discussion in open Gland
Lodges for years and question after ques-
tion was decided by majority vote. 1t
was not unusual that the decision of one
meeting was reversed at the next and
this unsettled condition continued until
the Grand Lodge adopted complete
ritual OF the work and lectures and
caused the same to be promulgated
throughout the jurisdiction.
In 1851 l came to the Grand Lodge the
duly accredited representative of Phoenix
degrees of Masonry, small, rude hall
upon the third floor of wooden school
building on Congress street, in this city,
short distance north OF the United
States Hotel. Its furnishings were of
the plainest kind, with no decorations or
costly fittings. NJ. W. John G. Humphreys
of Brunswick was G.M., Freeman Brad
ford of Portland Sc. W., Timo Chase Of
Belfast, J. g. W., Henry Fl. Boody of
Portland CT, Chas. B. Smith of Port
land G.S. Wor., and Rev. Cyrus Cum
mings Of Portland and Cyril PeaIe Of
Baldwin Chap, Wor, Jonathan Smith
of Portland G. Mas, Jos. Covell of Jay
SGD, VIM. Allen of Portland J.G.D.,
John Purington, Geo. Small, Thos. B.
Johnstone and John D. Lincoln G. Stew
ards, Sewell Waterhouse and YOUR hum
BILE servant, G. G.Pursuivants. John Dain,
Portland, q. Tyler with 8 Dist. Dep. q.
Most and two Past G. M, Robert p. Dun
lap and A Abner B. Thompson and repre-
sentatives from as lodges. Beside the
above named l had the honor of meet
ing here in those early days, many other
distinguished brethren, among whom
were:
NV. Samuel Fessenden of Portland.
M.W.-Ruel Wash burn of Livermore,
M.W.-Jos C.Stevens Of Bangor,
M.W.-Jabez True of Bangor,
.W.-John Miller Of Warren,
r. W.-Geo. Thatcher of Portland,
R.W.-Ezra B. French of Damariscotta.
R.W.-Isaac Downing of Kennebunk,
christopher Webber OF Gardiner.
R.W. William Somerby of Ellsworth.
W.-Thos. B. Johnston of Wiscasset.
R.W.-John Williams of Bangor,
.W.-Stephen 3. Dock ham Of Warren.
W.-Oliver Gerrish of Portland.
One of my earliest acqu aintances in
this Grand Lodge was ex-Gov, RI
Dunlap Of Brunswick, who served as
Grand Master in the years 183O-'31-'57,
orad cd In 1SSQ 10