Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-10-31

the Eleventh day OF January
A. L. 5S49.
Attest, John B. Hollenbeck, Grand
Secretary.
Our early records, those from 1907 to
1851 inclusive, are fragmentary and in
complete, but our faithful secretary has
labored industriously to "gather up the
fragments that nothing be lost,' and
enough remains to make a fairly clear
picture of the transactions and workings
of the lodge during that truly eventful
and important period in Masonic history.
Some part of the records remain for
each and every year from 1907 to 1889 in
elusive. From 1910 to 1S47, inclusive,
not a scrap has been found.
Whether any records were made dur
ing those years seems doubtful. 1t is
certain, however, that communications of
the lodge were held during those years
from time to time and at various places as
circumstances and opportunity afforded;
but it seems quite possible, nay, perhaps,
even probable, that no records of these
meetings were ever made. From 1S48 to
1851, inclusive, the records are fragmen-
tary but nearly complete. From 1852 to
the present time they are unbrOken and
entire. During all those early years and
until October 81, 1888, the lodge records
appear to have been made only on loose
sheets and slips of paper which, so far as
known, were never copied into a bound
volume or book, but were apparently
dropped promiscuously into a big wooden
box or chest where they were recently
discovered and brought to light" by our
secretary, Brother Sargent.
Some adequate idea may be formed as
to the magnitude of the task which
Brother Sargent has accomplished and
the amount of work involved in eXamin-
ing. asserting and arranging those old
odds and ends, when l tell you that the
"old chest which had long lain hid'' is
about seven feet long and scarcely less
than two feet square, thus having cubic
capacity of 10 or 20 bushels; and that it
was more than two-thirds full of this
jumbled and confused mass of records
and documents.
As to the fate of all our missing rec
ords, there is some doubt and uncertain
ty; but what became of some of them, at
least, is claimed to be personally known
by members of the lodge, now or until
recently living. 1t is matter which |
feel that l must now record, though do
so reluctantly and regretfuIly, not wish
ing to cast unjust or even unpleasant re-
Elections upon the memory of one who is
made by members OF the lodge who claim
to have personal knowledge of the occur
rences narrated, that, at one time, some
thirty or forty years ago, perhaps as early
as 1870 or therea bouts, member of the /
order mot, however, mem Der of this 7
lodge, came to ROyalton for the ostensi-
BILE purpose of seeking information to be
used in the preparation of some Masonic
sketch or history upon which he was then
engaged, and that he borrowed, or in /
some way obtained possession of and car
ried away quantity of records and dOcu- /
ments, the property of Rising Sun lodge. /
Just how many or what they were does
not seem to be known. but the brother
referred to admitted personally to me that
he did have in his possession at one time .
certain documents so obtained, but he
was not very clear as to just what they
were or what became of them. Anyhow, .
they were never returned to the lodge nor
have we been able to find or regain pos
session of them, though a committee ap-
pointed by the lodge so long ago as 1887 /.
or 1888. and of which the writer is chair
man, sought, and is still seeking, to do
so. We have not yet given up our pur-
suit of s'that which was LOST At first
thought, it seems strange and almost I'M
accountable that documents so valuable |
should have been thus carelessiy parted /
with upon any pretext or for any reason
whatever. But those of US who are per-
sonally cognizant of certain conditions
then existing can more readily under
stand how it happened. Concerning |
those conditions it is needless to speak
further than to say that, owing to I'M
happy dissensions which had arisen, the |
peace and prosperity of the lodge was
much affected, and in consequence all its
affairs and interests were not guarded with |
that care and diligence with which they |
otherwise would have been.
The communications of Rising Sun |
lodge from the time it's charter was grant |
ed to the year 1853 were held in Royalton |
Center or in various places in that vicini- |
ty. In 1858, the lodge was moved to |
South Royalton, where its meetings were
held in Woodlands hall, the upper story |
of the present hotel in this place. 1t
continued to hold its meetings there until |
some time in 1857, when it moved back to
Royalton Center. There it stayed thirty |
years more, or until 1887, when it again