Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-19
MASONIC LODGE
CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL

North Arson, Me, Dec. lS.-Northern
Star Lodge r. and A. NJ, held its cen
tennial exercises Wednesday evening
with keystone Lodge of Scion and
Bingham Lodge of Bingham as guests.
The third degree was given to Melville
+. Churchill with the work given by
the past masters who occupied the
chairs according to their ages, as fol-
lows: W. Harris Williams. w NJ: Will
bur c. Simmons, S. W.; W. Scott Jones,
j. W; Fred S. Parsons, S. D.; William
f. Frence, J. D.: John NJ. Getchell.
/ Sec; George l.. Hovey, Treas; James
II. Stevens, S S.: Fred W. Bunker. J..
s.; Clarence Mantor, Chap; Herbert H..
Marston, marshall; Bert Witham, tyler.
After the work a splendid supper was
served followed by speaking and 4
reading OF the history Of the lodge as
compiled by Elmer W. Sawyer. junior
warden.
AS early as 1877 meetings were held In
! North Arson village by resident Ma
sons for the purpose OF making prelim-
mary plans for the organization OF a
Masonic lodge. The charter which was
the result of those meetings was grant
ed by the Grand Lodge Of the Most
Ancient and Honorable Society of Free
and Accepted Masons, for the Common
wealth of Massachusetts" and bears
the date of Dec. ;. 1878 At the time
Northern Star Lodge was chartered It
was the only Masonic lodge in this sec
ton of the State, the nearest being at
HalIowell
There were IL charter members of
Northern Star Lodge: William Haskell,
/ David II. Raymond, James Collins,
\ Jesse Wilson. Simeon Cragin. Jr., Jonas
I Head, De Have Norton. William Paul.
Nathan Hanson, Joel Fletcher, Lemuei
Williams, Jr Andrew Mcr'adden, Eiihu
/ Norton. James Wright, Joseph Haskell,
Jeremiah Hilton, William Drummond
ard William Walker
J The first regular meeting of the lodge.
at which the organization was complet-
ed. was held Jan. 5. 1919. in the had
| owned by Lemucl Williams. Jr., his hail
| being the only one in the village at that
I, time. 1t was on the second floor Of d
\ public house, afterward known for many
/ wears as Somerset Hotel" William
/; Haskell was chosen master. James
\ Collins, great-grandfat Their of the pres
| ent master of the lodge. was chosen
/ junior warden.
/ In the early history of the lodge more
: Importance seems to have been place
! upon the application of the teachings of
! Masonry than is now the practice. En-
! pulsion for un-Mason.c conduct was not
I % RI
| 10 warn erring brothers to mend their
ways or expect expulsion from the
! lodge. Committees were appointed even
to settle disputes between brother Ma
| sons.
| In 1890 began the crusade against Ma
sorry and for several years the meet
! ings were held secretly.
+. On March H. 1851, during the session
I of the lodge, very interesting discus
| sion took place when the following
question was introduced: lis it compat
| ible with the principles Of Masonry for
! its members to use profane language
| without being admonished and. If per-
! sisted in, further dealt within There
! is no record to show how the question
was settled.
! There are many interesting features
| connected with the history of the lodge.
| IT is said that Masonry runs in faui-
| lies In this organization for nearly 100
! years the Moores. Mantors, Ge0hells.
| Stewards, Fletchers and Collins have
| been represented officially. Three gen
! era tions OF the Moore family have fur
nished masters: Goff Moore, Albert
Moore and Ben Moore. grandfather. son
and grandson. Moses Moore, brother Of
| Golf and uncle OF Albert. was also a
master. OF the Mantors were James
! Manter, Columbus Mantor. Benjamin
! Mantor and Clarence Mantor, grand
! father. sons and grandson. Calvin
Getchell, Charles s. Getcheil and John
NJ. Getcheli. grandfather. son and
grandson; Ben Steward, his nephew
Marcellus Steward, and BENJAMIN
Steward, nephew OF Marcellus. have
also served. The Collins family has
furnished two masters. including the
present master, and the Fletcher family
| has furnished one. Various Offices have
Leen filled by different members of al
these families and now. in tho 10th year
Of the existence of the lodge, every one
OF these families is represented in its
membership.
As previously stated. the present mas.