Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-29

OVER 500 MAsoNs
OBSERVE CENTENNIAL .
OF WATERV|LLE LODGE /
Most successful was the observ-
ance of the Tooth anniversary of Wa
terville Lodge. No. 80, F. and A. M,
which took place Monday afternoon
and evening, and at which over 500
Masons from Waterville and vicinity
took part. The entire company as
sembled at the Masonic Temple at
40 and marched to the City Opera
house, where the exercises of the
afternoon took place. This consist
ed mainly of a history Of the order
given by the right worshipful grand
secretary of the Grand Lodge of
Maine, Charles B. Davis of Portland
Philbrook, past master of Waterville
Lodge. Music was furnished by
Masonic orchestra under the direc-
tipn of Robert L. Wentworth.
After the exercises were completed
the Masons went by automobiles to
the Coliseum at the Central Maine
Fair grounds, where an excellent
banquet was served and pleasing
post prandial speeches were heard.
At the Masonic Temple the visit
ing Masons registered and were
formed in line marching two by two
to the Opera house. Besides those
from Waterville Lodge. there were
representatives from Central Lodge
of China, Rural Lodge Of Sidney,
Vassalboro Lodge of North Vassal-
boro, Sloan Lodge of kendalrs
Mills and Messalonskee Lodge of
Oakland, and Negaumquet of Vas
salboro. The Opera house was we'll
filled when the exercises began. Dr.
]. F. Hill, master of Waterville
Lodge presided.
The stage was beautifully trimmed
with flags and flowers with a Ma
sonic emblem made of banners at
the back, while several of the
prominent Masons occupied seats
there. Among these were Mayor E.
E. Finnimore, Judge Charles F..
Johnson. Rev. c. A. Knfckerbocker,
Charles B. Davis of Portland, Judge
A. M. Spear of Gardiner, DIR. F. c.
Thayer. NJ. w. C. NJ, Edward w.
Wheeler of Brunswick, DR.. j. F.
Hill. w. r. Jones. After a selection
by the orchestra, prayer was offered
by Rev. c. A. knickerbocker and
DIR. Hill made brief Introductory re-
marks.
An excellent address on Waterville
lodge, it's age, the conditions under
which it was established and Mason
ry in general was given by Most Wor-
shipful Edward w. Wheeler of Bruins
wick, grand master of the grand lodge
OF Maine.
The history of waterville Lodke
No. 50, F. and A. NJ, was given in
great detail by Charles B. Davis OF
Portland. formerly of this city. Mr.
Davis is grand secretary of the
grand lodge Of Maine and his story
of the life of Waterville lodge
showed painstaking care on his part
in the compilation of statistics and
happy events from the records OF
100 years. Briefly told. Waterville
Lodge, No. 80. F. and A. NJ, was
founded in 1920 being granted q
charter on June q of that year. The
meeting for organization was held
on October 25. 1920 when all the pc.
titioners met in Kimball's hall, Their
situated near where the Soper store
now stands and Benjamin Adams
was elected the first master. The
first candidate to receive the degrees
was Elijah Hallett. Jr., who was
initiated, November Is. 1920
Waterville Lodge was "consecrat.
ed" which probably means in mod.
ern terms, INSTITUTED June %
1921, the records stating that after
the grand lodge made an examina.
ton of the records. the members
marched to the meeting house where
the Throne Of Grace" was ad.
dressed by Rev. DR.. Chaplin, who
was the first president of Colby col.
lege.
The records show that on Febru.
ary %, 1856, an application TO,
membership was received from Ed
ward G. Meader, who is the oldes,
living member Of Waterville lodge
Mr.. Davis in referring to this fact
spoke Of the devotion and loyalty OF
Mr.. Meader during a period of 65
years and 4months, a record seldom
equalled.
Since It's organization, Waterville
lodge has been depleted five times by
the formation of new lodges as fol-
lows:l In 1924, Central Lodge OF
China: 1927, Rural Lodge Of Sidney
and Vassalboro Lodge Of North Vas
salboro: 1859, Sloan Lodge at Ken
. dalrs Mills and 1858. Messalonskee
Lodge at West Waterville. represen-
tatives Of which were present in the
audience. These five Mr.. Davis char
acterized as her five grown up chill
dren" and NeguamQuet Lodge al
Vassalboro as a grandchild, because
it did not divide the territory.
In closing, Mr.. Davis asked the