Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-11-04

From Mr. Curriers' historical paper the
following facts are taken:
sixty four years ago only six odd Eel
lows were To be found in Brattleburo.
but those six having the love Of the
order deeply implanted in their hearts
felt strong desire TO see a lodge cs-
tablshed here and made application 20
the grand lodge for "a dispensation To
institute lodge in BrattlcbOro. Tho
application was signed by Rev. John
Willis, John b. Miner II D. Bracket.
Thomas Lord and Frederick Franks
The request was granted and ON August
3, 1916. the lodge was born and christeucd
''Wantastquet" In honor Of the mount
ain just across the Connecticut river
The lodge was Instituted under the direc-
ton of Albert Case Of Worcester. Mass
d, G. S, of the grand lodge OF the United
States. w. F. Davis, d. u. G. NJ and
T. w. Alyord, G w. OF Greenfield Mass
assisted 10y members of PocImptuck lodge
Of Greenfield, Adelphia lodge of Colraln
Mass, and Asheulot lodge OF Winchester
y. H. These officers were elected and
installed y. c.. Rev. John H. Willis:
V. C.. Thomas G. Lord; secretary. H.
d. Bracket; treasurer, Frederick Franks
The meeting then adjourned to p. m.
when the hall was dedicated. "A large
number of invited guests being present
and an address being given by Albert
Case
At o'clock Wantastiquet lodge held
its first regular meeting in Harmony hall.
which stood on the site of the building
owned and occupied by a. V. Cox, and
that evening Il members were initiated
They were James Fisk Sewall Butler.
Edward Ellis. Rufus Chase Thomas Club
buck, F. Sawyer, L. NJ Burdett Masa
Willis, Eugene W. Prouty. John Bruce.
Reuben Spauding and Frederick Hunt,
respected and broad minded men
From Aug. 10, 1886 to Jan |. % members
were initiated and four were received by
card. During the next II years only 10
members were received That was a try
ing time for the lodge, but n faithful
few vowed they would hold the charter
as long as five members remained
Sewall Morse's firm and emphatic words.
Never surrender" undoubtedly were the
straw that turned the tide, They We're
framed and they hang in the han today.
The utterance of those two words will
ever make his name a sacred memory to
all who have the true spirit of odd Eel
lowship In their hearts
John Retting, =. G. NJ. is the oldest
in membership in the lodge, having join
ed in 1854. Next are John Henkel and
jerome knight The first record of the
observance of Thanksgiving. which comes
annually April 26, was in 1867, when the
members met in the hall and marched
to the Universalist church. Col c. A.
Miles acting as marshal. and listened
to an address by Rev. George H. Deere.
after which they marched to the old
Revere House, which stood where the
Peoples National bank now stands. and
a banquet was served there by II. G.
Nash proprietor of the hotel and a mem
Der of the lodge.
In 1863 George NJ. Clark was elected
grand master of Vermont and had the
honor of issuing the proclamation for the
5Oth, or golden" anniversary of the or
der in the United States. Wantastluuet
lodge observed the day, inviting Chester
lodge to be present An address was
given by Col, c. A. Miles, followed by
banquet and the lodge has observed the
anniversary every year since-4l years.
The closing part of the paper was as
follows: THE growth of this lodge has
been steady since 1870, adding Oasis en-
campment, Canton Palestine and Dennis
Rebekah lodge No. l We have also re-
ceived our full share of honor in the
grand lodge, seven members OF this lodge
having served as grand master of Yer
mont. One member L. X. Fuller. served
the state as governor. The faithfulness
of our presiding officers and visiting com
mittee in caring for the sick ard relieving
the distressed can be vouched for by hun
dreds of our members, We have paid
In the past 10 years for care of the sick
weekly benefits and support of the I. o.