Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1903-05-14
Bellows Falls Times
TIL RSDAY, MAY IA, 1908.
THE ASH BARREL ELIMINATED.
Charter of King Solomon's Lodge Not
Found Therein-GeneraI Butterfield
Arises to Explain.
Darhv inc VI Nav 10

Arises to Explain.
Derby Line, VT, May y.
EDITOR TIMES:
Having been reader or subscriber of
your paper particularly the latter for
more than 40 years l naturally noticed
the article in your last issue headed
"Masonic Consolidation and was very
much surprised in reading the same. at
the reference to the charter of King Sol
omon's lodge as having been found in an
ash barrel by my mother. Indeed,
wonder that the tue story of the finding
of that charter is not so well known in
Bellows Falls that such mistake could
not have occurred.
With your permission l will give a
brief statement of the circumstances
which, no doubt, can be found in full de-
tail among the records of King Solo
mons lodge: Something like 20 years
ago or more Mrs. Benjamin Smith of
Saxtons River, widow of the late Benja-
min Smith, former prominent Mason
in our parts, said to me that she had a
small trunk, which had been confded to
her by her husband, many years before,
for safe keeping and it was her recollec-
tion that it was said to contain Masonic
valuables and that she had for long
time felt that it ought to be opened by
some member of the Masonic fraternity,
that whatever it might contain should
be returned to the proper custodians.
None of her sons or her daughters hus-
bands, however, were members of the
Masonic order and it remained to the
next generation to find someone with
whom she could talk freely about such
matters. The writer having married a
granddaughter, and having been known
as jealous Mason, was selected for this
confidence. l Immediately appointed
time when I would come to her house
and open the box in her presence and,
having done so, found that it contained
the original charter and records of King
Solomon's lodge, lost at the time of the
Morgan excitement
Although, at that time, had become
member of the Lodge of the Temple,
l was very glad to be the messenger of
good tidings to King Solomon's lodge,
where had originally received the Ma
sonic degrees. The lodge was very much
aroused and expressed the liveliest feel
ings of gratitude and respect towards
this aged lady, who had epre served so
long the valuables of the order and had
been the means of restoring them at last
to the lodge, where they belonged.
committee was Immediately appoint
ed by the worshipful master to wait up
on Mrs. Smith and arrange for day
when they should go in body to her
residence and receive, at her hands, these
valuable treasures. A day was accord
ingly set and the lodge in body visited
her at her residence and received from
her the charter and records of the lodge.
AS testimony of their high apprecia-
tion of her sterling worth and integrity
they, at the same time, presented her,
on behalf of the lodge, with a very beau
tiful and valuable silver tea service, suit
ably engraved with legend perpetual
ing the memory of the occasion. All
these things as / above said, will prob
ably be found in detail in the archives of
the lodge. 45
1 would further like to add an incident
growing out of this which occurred to
me in Washington, D. G. At a great
meeting of the grand lodge was called
upon at the banquet, by the grand mas
ter, to make some remarks and in reply
ing told the story of my grandmothers
preserving the charter and records of my
old lodge. The entire audience was very
enthusiastic and passed an official vote
of thanks and set of resolutions which
were engraved and sent to Mrs Smith,
and a copy placed on file in the records
of the grand lodge of the District of
Columbia.
l trust that this brief occount of the
manner in which the charter was discoy
cred will refresh the minds of your read
ers and that no one will ever again think
that any of either my own or my wife's
ancestors would make it possible that
such things could be found in an ash
barrel. Yours sincerely,
F. @. BUTTERFIELD.