The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-04-02
MASONIC DEDICATION.
Keystone Lodge, +. and A. M of solou
Dedicate New Hall

p
pleasantly housed in its superb new hall
dedicated by Grand Master Aug. b. Farm.
ham and bis associates, representing the
Grand Lodge OF Maine. Thursday even.
ing, March u.
The occasion was one Of great inter
est ana must tell for the advantage of
this, one Of the most prosperous and
progressive Masonic lodges in Maine
To be sure it will not compare favofablv
with lodges III cities and larger towns
as to size, but the makeup Of the body.
as it is OF the best and most prominent
men OF the town, gives it superiority in
quality, if not in the number Of its mem.
bership.
The Grand Lodge was represented in
the impressive ceremony of dedication
/ by Aug. b. Farnham, Bangor. grand mas
ter; Joseph A. Locke, Portland, deputy
grand master; +. II. Wing, Skowhegan.
acting senior grand warden; Malon Pat
terson, Scion, acting junior grand war
den; Rev. /. f. Pember, Bangor, grand
chaplain; Joseph .. Smith, Skowhegan
acting grand secretary; A. NJ. Weather
bee, Warren, acting grand treasurer; L.
W. Mclntire, Scion, acting grand senior
deacon; Randall r. Durrell, Scion, acting
grand junior deacon; &. b. McIntire and
Alonzo Moore, Scion, acting grand stew
ards; Hugh X. Chaplin Bangor. grand
marshall; I. ID. Sale, Portland grand
tyler; 5. +. Green, Scion, acting grand
architect.
The dedication was public and the
wives, daughters and lady friends of
the members of Keystone Lodge in good
numbers graced the occasion with their
presence and contributed materially to
the enjoyment of the representatives of
the grand lodge present.
The charm of sweet music, vocal and
instrumental, was lent to the ceremonies
by choir made up of Mr. and Mrs. 5.
f. Green, Mrs. l.. W. McIntire. Mrs
Charles Bodwell, Mrs. Turner Boswell.
Perry 5. Longley and C. w. Clark, with
Mrs. Perry 5. Longley gracefully ohci-
ating as organist. Keystone Lodge is
most fortunate in having at command Il
body of such ready and accomplished
musicians.
A little history and description of this
building, the society homes of the Ma
sonic and ODD Fellow bodies of this
thrifty community, one of the best rep
resentatiyes of rural New England vii
lagos, is in order at this time.
The former home of the Masons was
in the upper story of the Town hall a
building not large enough for the pur-
poses for which it had been used fol
years, either the first floor for town
meetings and public gatherings of vari-
GUS kinds or the second floor for the
masonic lodge, and the Masons and odd
Eallbyug Jpohn .; 81,
town to furnish, rent free, large as
sembly room for town meetings in pay
ment for the old town hall and the de.
sirable lot on which it stood The pro.
position was good one for the town
and also for the societies making it and
it was accepted.
The old town hall was moved upon
the rear of the lot and during last sea.
son capacious wooden structure 55XGJ
feet, two stories, was erected. The first
floor is finished into one hall, l5X52 feet
with ante rooms, stage etc, for Use as a
public hall as well as for town meetings
and it is admirably adapted To the pur-
poses of a town of the size of Scion.
: light, airy, pleasing to the eye and in
every way convenient for general public
assemblies. The first floor of the old
town hall which was removed to the
rear is used as a banquet room being OF
: ample size for that purpose and tn,
second floor will, it is understood, be
come the society home of the loca
lodge of A. O. L. w.
Some - years ago Samuel Felker, Z
member of keystone lodge and resident
of Scion, died bequeathng his property
about 50 900, to this lodge and portion
of this fund, about 81 300, was used in
the erection of this buildng Solou
Lodge, /. O. o. f. contributed an equal
sum SO that the building stands the tive
societies 81, 900 in round numbers
; The dedication of odd Fellows Hall will
occur within about three weeks. Key
stone lodge is about 10 years old and
has membership numbering los and
Scion lodge |. O. o. F., a membership
of about 50. The institution of lodge
at Bingham last year had the effect to
draw somewhat from Scion membership
of odd Fellows.
The second floor of the new building
is divided into a Masonic Hall, on the
west side and an odd Fellows Hall on
the east side. These rooms with the
ante rooms are 27X65 feet or about 27Xjt
feet in the clear and there are few
/ societies in Maine outside of the cities
that have more pleasant and handsome
1 ~ decorated, better appointed society
homes, and, il there is virtue in thest
things-who can say there is move
look for these bodies to enter upon
new era of prosperity and enjoyment
Further work in the degrees is expected
in the early future by Keystone Lodge
The officers of Keystone Lodge +. ano
A. NJ, for the current year are: l.. {
f Jewett, w. NJ. {. A. Merrill, :. W; W
+ 5. Cram, J. W: Corrydon Felker treas
urer; Z. s. Longley, secretary; j. G
Spaulding, 5. b; j. NJ. Brown, J. ID.
Thomas Matson. :. s.; Lowell +. Ward
5 J. S O. w, Hilton, tyler; l.. +. Mcln
tire. marshal; {. Il. Mclntire, chaplin,
, After the ceremonies of dedication
were satisfactorily completed supper
was served in the banquet hall by Mr.
Williams of Scion, caterer. The supper
was conspicuous for the richness ant
variety of the viandS to which nearlA
200 did ample justice.
After supper the company repaired te
the general hail ON the first floor where
remarks were made by Grand Master
Farnham, Deputy Grand Master Locke
acting Grand Treasurer Weatheroee
) Grand Marshall Chaplin, District
Deputy Grand Master Wing and Crane
Chaplin Pember. These gentlemen
were particularly happy in their re
marks which were both witty and in.