Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-10-31
ONE HUNDRED
YEARS A LODGE
HISTORICAL ADDRESS BY DIR. e.
]. FISH OF SOUTH ROYALTON.

Tells the Interesting story OF Kissing
Sun Lodge, No. 7, F. and A. NJ, OF
That Pace.--The Original Charter
Head.--Incidents of Its Early His
tory.--Different Habits and Gus
toms of Those Times.--How the
Lodge Weathered the Anti Mason
ic Persecution.--Dr. Fish's Article,
Rsad at Lodges Centennial CeIe-
bration.
Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity.
Ladies and Gentlemen:-
A full century ago today, the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge of Vermont,
then convened at Windsor, granted to
Rising Sun lodge the charter which gave
it birth and legal existence among the
sister lodges of this Grand Jurisdiction.
A suitable observance of this, our one
hundredth birthday, seems fitting and
proper; and it may be interesting and
perhaps profitable to recall and consider
some of the events in the history of this
lodge during all these years.
A century-one hundred years! How
easily the words are spoken, and yet
what mighty changes these years have
wrought!
Napoleon was then at the height OF his
glory. Thomas jefferson was president
of the United States. Steam navigation
was vague dream of the future. Robert
Fulton, ridicuIed and jeered at for what
was deemed a freak undertaking, had
LAUGHED the first steamboat, the Clermont,
on the Hudson less than two months be-
fore. Vermont had been in existence as
one of the states of the Union only six
teen years.
The Most WOrshipfuI Grand Lodge of
Vermont itself had been in being only
thirteen years, for it was in 1894 that the
representatives of only five lodges hold
ing charters from neighboring Grand
Jurisdictions had met in the little town
of Manchester, Vermont, and formed a
new Grand Lodge.
The brief historical sketch of Rising
Sun lodge, which L have to present today
has been made possible only by the un-
firing labOrs and assistance of our faith
full and efficient secretary, Brother Sar-
gent, and l wish in the beginning to ac-
knowledge my great Indebtedness to him
in this particular.
He has delved diligently 'amOng the
records in the archives of the LODGE and,
like the "three sojourners" of old, he
has discovered and brought to light some
have slain buried in darkness many
years, and without knowledge of which
our history would be very meagre and in
complete.
The original charter of Rising Sun
lodge, granted by the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Vermont one hundred
years ago today, is still in existence, and
under its authority Rising Sun lodge has
worked continuously from that day to
this. Faithful hearts and strong hands
have preserved it all these years, and it is
there in the lodge room today for your
eyes to look upon, as it has been present
at every communication of this lodge dur
ing the century of it's existence.
hold in my hand copy of that VEN
cradle document, which l will now read;
By the wOrshipful Grand Lodge of the
most ancient and honorable society of
free and accepted MasOns in the state of
Vermont.
To all the fraternity of free and accept
ed Masons wherever dispersed throughout
the globe, to whOme these presents shall
come, Greeting:-
Whereas our worthy Brethren in ma
sonry, Bibye L. Cotton, Willard Pierce,
Stephen Cleveland, Phineas Parkhurst,
Thomas Bingham, Benjamin Day, Jun,
George Daney, and others, their associ-
ates residing at and in the vicinity of
RoyatOn in this State, have by their petit
ton, requested that they may be constl-
tuted a regular Lodge of ancient, free and
accepted MasOns to assemble at the said
town of RoyaltOn under the designation
and name of Rising-Sun Lodge and have
nominated their first Master and Ward
ems as herein after named and appointed.
And it having appeared, that it will be
for the promotion of the Royal Art, it
hath been our pleasure to grant the pray
er of said petition. Now therefore, Know
Ye, that We, by virtue of the power vest
ed in US by the Grand Constitution and
reposing special confidence in the pru-
dence, fidelity and skill in Masonry of
our worthy Brethren aforesaid, to wit,
Bibye [. Cotton, Willard Pierce, Stephen
cleveland, Phineas Parkhurst, Thomas
Bingham, Benjamin Day, Jun, George
Daney, and others their associates, have
constituted and by these presents do con-
stitute and appoint our worthy Brethren
aforesaid and their successors a regular
Lodge of ancient, free and accepted Ma
sons by the stile, title and designation of
Rising-Sun Lodge. Hereby fully empow-
erng our said constituted Brethren to as
sembIe as MasOns in the said town OF
Royalton and there to receive and enter
apprentices, pass fellow Crafts, and raise
to the sublime degree of Master-Masons,
such persons as they shall judge worthy
and well qualified, upon their payment of
such reasonable compensation as shall be
agreed upon by said Lodge, conformably
to the laws of the Grand Lodge. To
make choice of Masters, Wardens, and
Hother office bearers annually or as they
shall see fit. TO receive and collect funds
for the relief of poor and decayed Breth-
rem, their Widows and Orphan Children.
And in general to do and transact all mat
tiers and things proper to Lodge of an
.cient, free and accepted Masons conform
ably to the ordinances of the Grand
Lodge and agreeably to the ancient usages
and customs of Masons. And We so
hereby require the said constituted Breth-
rem to attend the Grand Lodge by their
Masters and Wardens for the time being
or their proxies at the stated annual meet
ing and at such other grand communica-
tions as shall by proper authority he ap-
pointed and also to keep fair and regu-
lar record of all the proceedings of said
Lodge proper to be written and lay the