The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-12-28
HISTORY OF SOMERSET LODGE
fConinued from Page Five)

just beyond the clouds there shone
silver lining.
Here closes the important history OF
this lodge In its beginning and in the
first year of its existence, nothing oc-
curing OF importance to mar the
beauty of the structure then being
erected. The Brethren were Jealous
in their work, self-denying and self
sacrificing in the cause; laboring in
season and out of season, without
money and without price, for the &C.
complishment of their long cherished
desire to build a Temple, in which all
participating could meet and be hall
ed as Brother whether Jew or Cen
tile, having but one fundamental idea,
to promote human happiness by anne
liorating human woe and having firm
belief in the Fatherhood of God and
the Brotherhood of Man.
From the date of the founding Of
this Lodge in 1888, the Lodge seems
to have been prosperous, having suf-
ficient work to keep up the interest
and the principal events worth noting
are the changing from time to time,
of the places where the meetings
were held. AS early as 1924 spe-
cial meeting was held at Brother
John G. Neil's in Norridgewock for
the purpose of installing the officers.
The home of brother Neil at the time
was In Norridgewock, but, by a
change of the town lines, the place
where II was situated has since be-
come a part of the Town of Skowhe-
gan. The Lodge then voted to hold
its meetings alternately IN the Towns
of Norridgewock and Milburn and
obtained proper authority therefor.
Later, they held the Norridgewock
meetings at what was then known as
Whites Hall, which was only rev
rods over the line between the two
towns. near Skowhegan Falls and was
some five miles from Norridgewock
Village.
In 1880 it was voted to remain for
that year In Miburn and 80 for as
history shows, the Lodge never again
met In the town of Norridgewock.
From 1888 to 1S4S came the period
known as the Masonic Hiatus. This
was the period of the so called Morgan
excitement and for fifteen years
NO meetings were held by this Lodge.
The lights were blown out, the furni-
ture removed to place OF safe keep
ing and Masonry, to the appearance
of the outward world, was only an
institution of the past. The Brethren
of today can hardly comprehend the
excitement the frenzy, the accu-
stations. Accommodations and torrents
of abuse heaped upon the devoted
heads of the fraternity in that dark
day of the anti-masonic crusade, nor
the test to which they were subjected
in passing through the fiery ordeal.
The contagion went over the land,
poisoning the atmosphere like the
pestiIential breath of the simeon
Communities caught it; churches d.
yided: It went into national politics;
10 was deep laid plot for mercenary
or political reasons. Neither the nlgh
character of avowed patrons of Free
Masonry nor the declared principals
of the institution could stop its force
1t arrayed friend against friend,
father against son. Tho people, wild
in their excitement, were trying to
find something or escape from some
thing, they knew not what. In TINS
unnatural state of mind they never
once paused to allow the little reason
they had to control their fear or bride
their abusive tongues. The direct
and only cause was the sudden dis
appearance of one William Morgan
from his home in Batavia, New YORK.
That he disappeared forever is true;
that he was foully dealt with by some
body is possibly true; that he COM
mitted suicide is also possibly true;
hut that the fraternity had anything TO
do In the one case or the other was
never proved, generally disbelieved'
and was never anything but an ldle
speculation. The many theories IN
regard to the event were proved ana
dfsproved, and correct knowledge
or plausible theory even of the man $
exit never was obtained The excite
ment had its day, its fury spent ltself,
and the purposes of the movers or the
crusade were accomplished for time.
But. like the refulgent rays OF the
noon-day sun after violent tempest,
Freemasonry was to appear again ana
more beautiful than ever. How true
indeed,
"Truth crushed to earth shall rise
again;
The eternal years of God are hers;
But error, wounded, writhes in PAIN
And dies among his worshipers.
In 1S48, by order of the Dlstrict
Deputy Grand Master, Somerset Lodge
met on August fifth and made its
choice of officers. This meeting was
held in Skowhegan, formerly Miipurn'
in Brother Morrills hall, where the
Lodge was temporarily convened un-
III further and better arrangements
could be made The charter, when
had been safely deposited in the
Archives of the Lodge, was brougn'
to light with the furniture and para,
phernalia necessary for its work. ana
now. after a lapse Of fifteen years,
Somerset Lodge was working under
it's original charter, which, as before
stated, had been safely preserved oy
"the faithful few The bretnereh
were scattered. Death, the destroy,
ing angel, had made inroads ana
lessened the roll-call; but when the
word had gone out, calling them TO-