Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-11-12
Early Masonry.

There have been placed in our hands
couple of ancient and interesting Masonic
documents, one of which relates to the or
ganization of Mark Masters Lodge in
Bethel in 1918, while the other is the Sec
retary's report of a meeting of Rising
Sun Lodge III Royalton in 1924
On these papers are several prominent
and well-known names, including those
of United States Senator Jacob Collamer,
the venerable James p. Cleveland, ST., OF
this village, and his father, Stephen
Cleveland, the grandfather of Judge James
p. Cleveland, Jr., of Randolph. The first
document reads as follows:-
AT a meeting of a number of Mark
Master Masons at the dwelling house of
Simeon Babbitt, on the 9th day of April,
1918, in Bethel, chose Stephen Cleveland,
moderator OF the meeting; James q. kals-
ton, clerk. Voted to adjourn this meet
ing to Wednesday, the 23th inst, at this
place, at O'Clock in the afternoon. At
test, james b. Ralston, clerk.
1918, April 10Th, met according to ad-
tournament and passed the following votes: :
&C ose Stephen Cleveland, master; Lowell
Hubbard, senior warden; Jaclb Collamer,
junior warden Abial Austin, treasurer;
Roger Copeland, secretary; Nathan KIM
ball, master overseer; Benjamin Putnam,
senior overseer; Oliver II. Brooks, junior
oyefseer; b. l.. Cotton, tyler. Close Ste
phen Cleveland agent 10 visit the Grand
Chapter to procure a warrant for Mark
Lodge at Bethel. Chose Jacob Collamer
assistant agent 10 go with Brother Ste
phen Cleveland.
Voted to adjourn this meeting to the
second Wednesday in June, at this place,
at ] o'clock p. IN"
The second document is the report made
by tue secretary, George Bingham, of
meeting of Rising sun Lodge in Royal
ton. IL is given after this fas0lon:-
"Rising Sun Lodge convened at Ma
sons hall in Royalton, August Attn, 1924,
and opened in the first degree.
Bretnren present.. +. Austin, master;
+. Dewey, senior warden; b. Bliss, junior
warden; VIM. Pierce, Jr., treasurer; q.
Bingham, secretary; G. Parkhurst, senior
deacon; ). Brown, junior deacon; VIM.
Pierce, tyler VIM. Partridge, Seth Aus
tin, Samuel Austin, Jr., j. Collamer, John
Dix, X. Brown, Il. Parkhurst, Il. Pierce,
5. Lincoln, w. Sawyer, James p. Cleve-
land, Il. Snort, Samuel Marley, 5. Smith,
James Fiiield, ID. Weston, Moses Cutter,
Prosper Copeland, 3. Walker, ). Howe, j.
Denison and VIM. l.. Frink.
Ballot taken for Mr.. John Warren as
candidate for first degree OF Masonry.
Ballot clear in his favor, and he was ac-
cordingly initiated; fee, q. MIR. henry
NJ. Dodge of Tunbridge proposed as a can
didate for the first degree of Masonry; de-
post paid, 80. Apprentices Lodge called
off on dispensation, and +. Crafts Lodge
opened in due form. +. Crafts Lodge
called off for the purpose OF opening Mas
ters' Lodge, which was opened IN due
form.
Ballots taken for Reniah Short and
James Z. Cleveland, candidates for the
Masters degree. Ballots clear in favor o.
the candidates, and they were accordingly
raised to the sublime cegree OF Master
Aiasons; fees for both, 20. Ballot taken
for Abraham Howe OF Sharon as candi- |
date for the Masters degree. Ballot clear
in favor of the candidate, who was accord |
ingly raised to the sublime degree; Zee, %. |
Voted to loan VIM. Sawyer sl5 till tue |
first OF January. Lodges closed IN due
iorm."
Among the brethren mentioned above, |
]. 4. Austin was formerly a merchant IN |
Bethel, while Samuel Narley was tue one |
" lose suicidal death, by cutting his own |
hroat, created such a sensation in that |
village so many years ago.
Mr.. Cleveland, whose initiation in 49, |
INTO the Rising SIN Lodge of Bethel Il |
lere recorded, mas been a member of that |
lodge ever since, and is now in his eth |
ear. He is probably the oldest Mason in |
Sew England.